Lok Sabha Question No. 979 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Stampede in Religious Places
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ravneet Singh, Su Thirunavukkarasar, Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 979

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022/ MAGHA 19, 1943 (SAKA)

## STAMPEDE IN RELIGIOUS PLACES

979.     SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU: SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR (ALIAS) VIJAY VASANTH: SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  increasing  incidents  of stampede in the religious places in the country and the recent incident of stampede in the Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir, Jammu and Kashmir in which 12 pilgrims have lost their lives and few others were injured;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the number of such similar incidents during the last three years, year/State-wise;
- (c)  whether  any  probe  has  been  ordered  over  the  incident  and  if  so,  its findings thereof;
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the  recurrence  of  such incidents and the amount of compensation paid to the next of kin of dead and injured and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of any policy of the Government to provide compensation or other  relief  to  the  victims  of  such  incidents  at  religious  places  in  the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

- (a) & (b): As per the information received from the Government of Jammu
- &  Kashmir,  12  pilgrims  lost  their  lives  in  a  stampede  that  occurred  on

01.01.2022  at  Shri  Mata  Vaishno  Devi  Shrine,  Katra,  Jammu & Kashmir.

## L.S.US.Q.NO.979 FOR 08.02.2022

Further, the data relating accidental deaths due to stampede are maintained  by  the  National  Crime  Record  Bureau  (NCRB).    The  details  of Accidental deaths due to Stampede during 2018- 2020 is as under:

| Period   | No. of Accidental Death due to Stampede   |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|
| 2018     | 6                                         |
| 2019     | 12                                        |
| 2020     | 14                                        |
| 2021*    | -                                         |

(c): As  per  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  of  India,  public  order  and police are State subjects.  The State Governments concerned are primarily responsible  for  security  and  maintenance  of  law  &  order  in  public  places including  religious  places.    They  conduct  enquiry  into  the  incidents  of stampede and take appropriate remedial action.  A high level three member committee  headed  by  the  Principal  Secretary  (Home),  Govt.  of  J&K  has been constituted to ascertain the reasons behind the incident of Stampede in Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir, Jammu & Kashmir.

(d) & (e): Government of J&K has informed that they have  taken several steps to ensure safety and security of the pilgrims which inter-alia include online  yatra  registration,  token  system  for  darshan,  RFID  based  crowd

management, construction of new shelters and halting points for pilgrims, installation of CCTV cameras, other crowd management measures etc.  The Government of India issues advisories to State Government/UT administrations  from  time  to  time  with  regard  to  crowd  management  and security and safety of the people visiting religious places and other public places.  Central Government also keeps watch on Law & Order situation of the country through its agencies and provides necessary assistance as per their  requirement/  demands.    The  State/  UT  Government  concerned  take suitable steps to provide compensation or other relief to the victims of such incidents at religious places.

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