Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Aug 24: A tragedy struck Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan this afternoon when a CRPF Jawan was crushed to death on getting trapped under a big boulder, which fell on the track near the holy cave shrine.
The mishap took place around 12.50 pm near Gate Number 3 at the cave shrine area where the CRPF jawan was stationed on duty. Incident triggered panic among the pilgrims, though they had a miraculous escape and no one of them was injured.
The deceased was identified as Harvinder Singh, Head Constable, 6th battalion of CRPF and a resident of Dasyua in Punjab. His body was recovered after drilling the rock, said SSP Reasi, Sujit Kumar.
Giving details about the incident, A K Sahu, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said that the strata of the rock at this site is sedimentary and one portion of the rock sliced from the main rock strata and fell on the track.
Immediately on hearing about this incident, the CEO along with Additional CEO Piyush Singla and Executive Engineer of the Shrine Board rushed to the site of the incident and supervised the rescue operations. The men and machinery as well as the Disaster Management Task Force of the Shrine Board, Police and CRPF immediately cleared the debris and recovered body of CRPF jawan.
The incident led to stoppage of yatra for a brief period but the same was resumed immediately. “The Yatra, which was diverted for some time via the exit route till the debris was cleared, is progressing smoothly via the normal route and all the yatris are safe,” said a release of the Shrine Board.
Expressing grief over this unfortunate incident Governor N N Vohra, who is Chairman of the Shrine Board, has directed CEO to arrange for an ex-gratia support of Rs 3 lakh for the family of the deceased.
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