Jammu, Jan 1, 2022: At least 12 devotees have died and over a dozen others injured in a stampede at Jammu Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees, officials said today.

Official added that the incident occurred outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine on Trikuta hills.

They said a large number of devotees had gathered at the shrine to pay their obeisance to mark the new year.

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An official told news agency Kashmir News Trust that due to massive rush, a large number of devotees entered the Vaishno Devi Bhawan without permission slips.

He confirmed the death of 12 devotees adding over a dozen pilgrims are injured and have been shifted to hospital.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh in a tweet said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring and keeping track of the tragic situation arising out of stampede at Mata #VaishnoDevi shrine. PM has conveyed his sympathies to bereaved families and issued instructions to provide all possible medical aid & assistance to the injured. (KNT)