Vaishnodevi landslide: Ex-gratia announced for kin of CRPF jawan

Jammu, Aug 25: Expressing grief over the death of a CRPF jawan in landslide at Mata Vaishnodevi's shrine on Wednesday, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 3 lakh for the next of kin of the personnel.

Governor N N Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the shrine board, has directed the CEO to arrange Rs three lakh to be paid to the family of the jawan, SMVDSB spokesman said.

Giving details of the incident, SMVDSB CEO Ajeet Sahu said that at 12.50 PM today, a portion of the rock formation fell on the track near the shrine area and Head Constable Harvinder Singh was crushed under it.

Sahu said 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. On hearing about the incident, the CEO along with Additional CEO and the executive engineer of the shrine board rushed to the site and supervised the rescue operations.

The men and machinery as well as the Disaster Management Task Force of the shrine board, police and CRPF cleared the debris and recovered the body of Singh.

The Yatra, which was diverted for some time via the exit route till the debris was cleared, is progressing smoothly via the normal route, he said.

PTI