Jammu: At least twelve pilgrims have died and over dozen injured in a stampede at Jammu and Kashmir’s Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.

Stampede occurred due to the massive rush to New Year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of devotees. PMO has personally monitored the situation.

Additional Director General of Police, Mukesh Singh has confirmed the death of 12 pilgrims and 14 people have injured. Injured persons have shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Stampede took place outside the sanctum sanctorum of the Shrine on Trikuta hills. Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered high-level probe to investigate the matter.

"Preliminary information from the scene suggests that a minor altercation among some young boys led to the stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in which 12 people, unfortunately, died," Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said.

"Police and officials from the civil administration were quick to respond, and the order within the crowd was immediately restored, but by that time, the damage had been done," PTI reported.

Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sending his "condolences to the bereaved families."

The Prime Minister's Office also announced an amount of ₹ 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The PMO said that the amount would be given to the families of those who lost their lives due to the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. The injured would be given ₹ 50,000, the PM's Office added.

"Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. My condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured," the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha said in a tweeted.

He said that he spoke with the Prime Minister and "briefed him about the incident." He further announced that an amount of Rs10 lakh each would be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede and ₹ 2 lakh to those injured.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office said that PM Narendra Modi is "personally monitoring and keeping track of the tragic situation arising out of stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine."

He further stated that PM Modi has "conveyed his sympathies to bereaved families and issued instructions to provide all possible medical aid & assistance to the injured."