SRINAGAR
\nAt least 12 people died and 13 were injured in a stampede at a religious shrine in the early hours of Saturday in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said.
\n\u201cAt least 12 people lost their lives and 13 are injured,\u201d one senior government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
\n\u201cThe toll could be higher as the route to the hilltop shrine was packed with devotees trying to do the customary new-year visit and prayers,\u201d he said.
\nThe Mata Vaishno Devi is one of the most revered Hindu shrines in northern India, with tens of thousands visiting to offer prayers every day.
\nAnother disaster-management official confirmed the death toll, saying the stampede took place at about 2:45 am (2115 GMT).
\n\u201cA high-level inquiry has been ordered by the government into the stampede incident at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cExtremely saddened by the loss of lives,\u201d Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter, adding that he was in touch with local officials.
\n\u201cCondolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,\u201d Modi said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SRINAGAR At least 12 people died and 13 were injured in a stampede at a religious shrine in the early hours of Saturday in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said. \u201cAt least 12 people lost their lives and 13 are injured,\u201d one senior government official told AFP on condition of anonymity. \u201cThe toll could be higher as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-236444","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n