Katra

Nine of 16 people injured in the stampede early Saturday morning have been discharged from hospital by the evening while seven are still under treatment, some of them still critical, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said.

"Twelve devotees died in the Katra stampede. Sixteen others were rushed to a hospital out of which nine were discharged. Seven people are still in the hospital and some of them are on ventilators," Sinha told reporters on Saturday after visiting the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital where the injured are under treatment.

A three-member high-level probe has been ordered by the government in the stampede.

"Chief Secretary (Home), Additional Director General of Police (Jammu Zone), and Divisional Commissioner of Jammu will investigate this incident," Sinha said.

Vaishno Devi yatra resumed later in the day after a brief suspension following the stampede.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh inspected Vaishno Devi Bhawan stampede site with Director General Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh in Katra.

"We will now hold discussions in Katra with the Vaishno Devi trust officials. We have to limit the number of devotees going for the yatra and ask them to cooperate," Singh said.

J-K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta has said that all required help has been provided and arrangements are being made.

The stampede took place at around 2:15 am near gate no. 3 at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Police said that as per initial reports, an argument broke out which resulted in people pushing each other which triggered the stampede.

The Lt Governor announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of those who died in the stampede and Rs 2 lakh for the injured.

Almost simultaneously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the stampede and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

The cave shrine is situated at an altitude of 5,200 feet in the Reasi district and generally attracts close to a million devotees every year.

The operations of the pilgrimage site are managed by the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which provides battery car and ropeway services to the pilgrims to reach the top of Trikuta hills for prayers.