2 women pilgrims die, 1 injured

Jammu, Sep 02: Two women pilgrims were killed while a minor girl sustained injuries in an incident of landslide, triggered by shooting stones following incessant rains during the past few days, on the Himkoti track to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra of Reasi district on Monday.

Immediately after the incident, this afternoon, disaster management teams of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) reached the spot. Yatra was stopped at the Himkoti route where a relief and rescue operation was launched to shift other trapped pilgrims to safety. However, the yatra continued through the old traditional (Sanjhi Chhat) route.

“As shooting stones and a landslide hit the track; debris fell on the shed, leading to the collapse of the iron structure. In the tragic incident, two women pilgrims died on the spot while a minor girl sustained injuries. They were on their way to the shrine. Other affected pilgrims were immediately evacuated to safe locations,” officials stated.

Deceased women pilgrims were identified as Neha, 21, wife of Amit Kumar Verma, resident of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh and Sapna, 25, wife of Amit Kumar, resident of Dhianpur in Gurdaspur, Punjab.

Injured Sanvi, 5, daughter of Rakesh Kumar, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was immediately shifted to a Katra hospital where, according to officials, she was responding to treatment.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), while sharing his grief over the incident, has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the Next of Kin (NoK) of each deceased.

“Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the loss of lives of the pilgrims due to the unfortunate incident of shooting stones on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine track,” an Official Spokesperson said.

“The Lieutenant Governor has also approved an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to be given to each of the next of kin of the deceased and other assistance, as provided in the rule, to the affected families,” the Spokesperson said.

Earlier, in a condolence message, the Lieutenant Governor said, “Extremely pained to learn about the loss of precious lives of pilgrims due to the unfortunate incident of shooting stones on Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine track, today. My deepest condolences to bereaved families in this hour of grief.”

“Praying for the early recovery of the injured. I have directed the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the District Administration Reasi to provide all necessary assistance, as provided in the rule, to the affected families and ensure best care for the injured,” LG Sinha added.

Following the incident, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shrine Board Anshul Garg stated that Yatra was disrupted on the track, owing to shooting stones and landslides. “Disaster management team of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board reached the spot for prompt relief and rescue operation,” he added. Three devotees were injured in the landslide and two of them succumbed to injuries, he said.