Kashmir: At least twelve dead in mass panic

Thousands of believers had come to pray on New Year’s Day in the Hindu shrine of Mata Vaishnav Devi near the city of Jammu. Mass panic broke out for reasons that are not yet clear. At least twelve people were killed.

Several people died in a mass panic in a Hindu temple in India-controlled Kashmir. According to a senior government official with the AFP news agency, “at least twelve people were killed and thirteen injured”. But the number of deaths could still rise.

According to a civil protection officer, the mass panic occurred around 2:45 in the morning. According to the authorities, the faithful flocked to the Hindu shrine Mata Vaishno Devi to pray for the traditional New Year’s visit. The temple is one of the most important places of worship for Hindus in northern India and is visited by tens of thousands of believers every day. It is located in the Katra Mountains, about 30 kilometers from the city of Jammu.

Government orders investigation

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the relatives of the dead on Twitter. He was “extremely sad about the loss of human life,” wrote Modi on the Internet platform. The cause of the mass panic is unclear. The government ordered a “high level investigation” into the incident.

Witnesses have been quoted in some media reports who said that the maximum number of visitors allowed was exceeded by 25,000 people. According to this, large groups would have entered the temple without permission. According to other reports, a dispute between believers had broken out. Rescue workers were on duty immediately after the panic. The injured – some of whom were reported to be in serious condition – were taken to hospitals, as shown on video footage posted on the Internet.

Hardly any security measures at religious festivals

Mass panics are not uncommon at religious festivals in India, as large crowds gather in a small space and there are hardly any security measures. At least 115 people were killed in one such incident in 2013 in the state of Madhya Pradesh.