At least 154 devotees were killed and 50 injured in a stampede on Sunday morning at the Naina Devi shrine

By Bijender Sharma
Ropar/ Nainadevi --- At least 154 devotees were killed and 50 injured in a stampede on Sunday morning at the Naina Devi shrine in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pardesh after a railing at an entrance collapsed under the weight of the crowd. A pall of gloom descended on the devotees. As for devotees are concerned, they are looking for their relatives instead of paying obeisance’s to the deity. Meanwhile Former Chief Minister of the State Virbhadra Singh has asked the state government to conduct a high- level inquiry in to the incident
Officiating Deputy Commissioner of Bilaspur C P Verma, while confirming the death toll said as many as 146 bodies had been sent to the civil hospital at Anandpur Sahib near Nangal in Punjab. A majority of the victims were belonging to Punjab and some even from Chandigarh. At least 30 children were amongst the dead.
According to the information of the police Chief of Bilaspur district K K Indoria , who is on the spot along with D S P Vimal Gupta , Due to some rumor the stampede occurred after a railing leading to the Singh Gate entrance of the shrine collapsed under the weight of Devotees who were waiting their turn to pay obeisance during the on going Sharwan Ashtami Mela .When railing collapsed a number of pilgrims including women and children rolled down the hill while others ran helter skelter to save themselves, he added over phone.
He confirmed the death of 146 devotees. Large numbers of devotees are gathered here for Darshans in the temple on the occasion of Sharvan Ashatami Mela.
Deputy Commissioner of Ropar, B.Parshartha who is supervisong the rescue operations in Anandpur Sahib said that 146 dad bodies have been received so far. He said that injured persons have been admitted in Nangal and Ropar hospitals and some have been referred to PGI Chandigarh.
Vijay, a resident of Bilaspur, had come to Naina Devi shrine to pray, but he ended up ferrying 26 bodies to a hospital in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, after the stampede.
Vijay made eight trips with the bodies in his jeep on the hilly road between Naina Devi and Anandpur Sahib. Moved by the cries for help from grieving relatives of victims, Vijay and a driver from Bilaspur volunteered to shift the bodies after it emerged that the district administration and shrine management did not have enough vehicles and drivers to take the nearly 150 bodies to hospitals. "The relatives of dead pilgrims were requesting for help. How could we have refused?" said Vijay.
It may be recalled that this is the third time in the past 20 years that stampede at famous shrine of Naina Devi of Bilaspur in Himachal Pardesh had killed devotees. Earlier, in 1986, about 60 devotees were killed in the stampede. On August 6, 2000 there was another stampede when one woman was killed and 30 others were injured due to collapse of railing. The current incident has also occurred due to collapse of railing, Tara Madhav head priest of the shrine said.
Meanwhile Himachal government has ordered a magisterial inquiry in to the incident, inquiry will be conducted by the Divisional Commissioner of Mandi Ashwini Kapoor , so that such incidents were not repeated in future.
The State Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister have expressed grief over the tragic incident near Naina Devi Temple .
The Chief Minister cut short his tour to Chamba and had reached at the incident spot this evening to personally see the ongoing relief and rescue operations being carried out by the District Administration. He is camping in Nainadevi.
Chief Minister has prayed Almighty God to give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved family members to bear the irreparable loss. Chief Minister directed the officers of the District Administration to provide immediate assistance to the affected families and medical care to the injured.

Dhumal said that Govt. has ordered to release Rs. One lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased person, Rs. 50,000 to the seriously injured and Rs. 25,000 to other injured as immediate relief.
Adequate transport arrangements were made to take the dead bodies to Anandpur Sahib in Punjab for autopsy and transportation of deceased to their native places. Meanwhile, District Administration along with medical and rescue teams on hearing about the tragic incident immediately rushed to the spot to carry out relief and rescue operation.
Bilaspur District administration has decided to shut down the famous shrine of Nainadevi in Bilaspur of Himachal Pardesh as situation goes in the campus worse. No body is allowed to enter in the campus. D C Bilaspur C P Verma said that the Temple will be opened on Monday.
Meanwhile a Special prayer was organized to express the grief on the untimely deaths of the devotees in the Temple. Chief Minister Prem kumar Dhumal along with his cabinet colleague Narendra Bragrata and Jagat Parkash Nadda, Randhir Sharma Local MLA and Member Parliament from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur participated in the prayer. The President of Himachal Congress Kaul Singh Thakur also arrived in Nainadevi.
On the other hand Leader of the Opposition of Punjab Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has expressed shock and grief over the death. Earlier, in the morning Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal talked to Himachal CM over phone and extended all help in rescue operations. The medical teams from all over the state have been sent to Anandpur Sahib. Health Minister of Punjab Luxmi Kanta Chawla has reached at the Anandpur Sahib. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee(SGPC) has extended all help to the families of victims. People can contact Manager of Takht Kesgarh Anandpur Sahib for any help on his mobile 9814898516 or land line number 01887-232023. Baba Labh Singh of Karsewa said that transport facility would be provided to all needy people free of cost. All schools in Amnandpur Sahib would remain closed on Monday.