Date:05/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/05/stories/2008080559661100.htm

National

Dhumal seeks report on Naina Devi temple stampede

Kanwar Yogendra

UNBEARABLE LOSS: A grief-stricken Parmjit cradles his nephew Pawan, who was among those killed in the Naina Devi shrine stampede, at the Civil Hospital in Anandpur Sahib, near Shimla, on Monday.

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Monday convened a meeting of officials and reviewed the arrangements in the Naina Devi shrine to regulate the rush of devotees.

The meeting comes in the wake of the stampede at the shrine on Sunday that claimed the lives of 146 people.

Mr. Dhumal said the Divisional Commissioner had been asked to submit a report on the tragedy within two weeks.

Panel to evolve norms

A committee, consisting of top officials, had been entrusted with the task of formulating appropriate guidelines for adoption by the temple authorities to cope with any emergency situation during the peak season’s heavy rush.

The government would study the pattern followed by the Jammu and Kashmir government in regulating the devotees in the Vaishno Devi temple and incorporate suggestions from various quarters and the report of the Divisional Commissioner.

Ex gratia

Mr. Dhumal said 23 of those who perished were from Haryana, seven from the Una district of Himachal and the rest from Punjab.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal visited the shrine and announced an ex gratia of Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.

Improvements

Despite the tragedy, people thronged the shrine on Monday and there was vast improvement in the arrangements.

There was an improved public address system and more police regulating the devotees from the base.

President condoles

Special Correspondent reports from New Delhi:

President Pratibha Patil has condoled the loss of lives in the Naina Devi temple stampede.

In a message, the President conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and sent her prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also expressed grief at the tragedy at Naina Devi.

“Given the experience in handling such pilgrimages elsewhere and the tragedies that have taken place earlier, it is imperative that State governments concerned make adequate arrangements to handle such huge gatherings. If required, the Central government should also provide assistance for the same,” the Polit Bureau of the party said in a statement here.