Jammu: At least twelve pilgrims have died and several got injured in a stampede incident at Vaishno Devi Shrine . The stampede was triggered after a group of young people indulged in a minor altercation amid huge rush of Mata Vaishno Devi devotees. A high-level inquiry has been ordered into the stampede.

President Ramnath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi nd Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have expressed shock and grief over the unfortunate incident.

Authorities in the UT police administration confirmed that 12 pilgrims have died and at least 13 are injured in the stampede. They said that all the injured have been taken to a hospital. According to media reports the incident took place outside the sanctorum of the shrine. JK Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha said ”a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the stampede”.

Authorities said that a minor altercation among some young boys led to the stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in which 12 people unfortunately died. JK Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said that ”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.”