A total of 22 Amarnath pilgrims died over the past 14 days because of landslides and health reasons while trekking to the cave shrine in South Kashmir.
Governor NN Vohra, Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), on Thursday announced ex gratia of Rs. 3 lakh each to the next of kin of 5 yatris who died due to shooting stones on Baltal-Holy Cave route and 3 cases of deaths in road accidents.
This was announced during a review meeting held with Umang Narula, CEO of the SASB.
The CEO said that between 28 June and 11 July, 20 yatris had died en route the holy cave. In addition, 2 service providers also died, thereby raising the death toll to 22. Out of 22 persons, 14 persons died due to medical reasons and 8 in accidents at different locations.
The bodies of 17 yatris and 1 service provider were transported by air up to the nearest airport of their home states in Bihar, West Bengal, Hyderabad, Gujarat and New Delhi. The bodies of 3 deceased yatris and 1 service provider were transported by road to their native places.
The governor conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and issued instructions to CEO to provide immediate relief of Rs. 3 lakh. Injured Yatris who require specialised treatment are being provided necessary care in the Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar and the cost is borne by the Shrine Board. As on 12 July, 69 Yatris had been admitted to SKIMS out of whom 58 have been discharged and the rest are still under treatment.
On the 15th day of the ongoing pilgrimage, Yatra Convoy moved smoothly from Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp at Jammu towards the Nunwan and Baltal Base Camps, carrying 3419 Yatris. Nearly 9480 Yatris proceeded towards the Shrine on both Pahalgam and Baltal routes. 18442 Yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Cave today taking the total to 1,51,923 Yatris who have performed darshan of the Holy Shivling so far.