Committee will be headed by Principal Secretary to Govt Home deptt, to submit report within weeks time

3 member high-level committee constituted to ascertain cause of stampede at Vaishno Devi Shrine

Srinagar, Jan 01 : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday ordered constitution of three member high level committee headed by Principal Secretary to the government Home department to probe the incident at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra area of Reasi.

According to an order a high level three member Committee, headed by Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, is hereby constituted to ascertain the reasons behind the tragic incident at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra.

As per the order the Committee shall comprise of Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu.

It states that the committee shall examine in detail the causes and reasons behind the incident, point out the lapses and fix the responsibility thereof and suggest the appropriate SOPs and measures for preventing recurrence of such incidents in future.

The order stated that the Committee shall submit its report within a weeks time to the Government.

Notably, at least a dozen pilgrims died while 15 others were injured in a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in the wee hours on Saturday.