Six more Amarnath pilgrims died en route to the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, taking the toll during this year’s pilgrimage to 67, officials said on Wednesday.
Body of an unidentified Sadhu was recovered from a tent at Panjtarni, six kms short of the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine, along the 46-km traditional Pahalgam route, on Wednesday morning, the officials said.
One of the pilgrims, 50-year-old Prem Chand, a resident of Punjab, died after being hit by a shooting stone, rolling down from a hillock, while crossing Brarimarg glacier on 16-km Baltal-cave route in Ganderbal district last evening, they said.
Another two, Subash Chand (45) and Subash Babu (62), both residents of Uttar Pradesh, died of cardiac arrest at Railpathri and Brarimarg respectively, on Baltal route, on Tuesday night.
Hari Bhai (50) of Gujarat and Bhim Singh (72) of Haryana also died along the Baltal route last night.
Over 3.90 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance since the pilgrimage to the 3,880-mt high holy cave shrine began from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on June 25.
Shiv Sena protest
Holding the Jammu and Kashmir government and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board responsible for the death of Amarnath pilgrims, Shiv Sena held protests.
“Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and the state government are responsible for the 62 deaths (of the pilgrims) in few days after the commencement of the yatra (on June 25),” Shiv Sena state chief Ashok Gupta told reporters.
Over 1,500 activists of Shiv Sena and Dogra Front took out protest march against the government and SASB. The protesters alleged the government and the Board failed to tackle the increasing trend of deaths during the pilgrimage.
“J&K government has failed to provide medical facilities and senior ministers of Jammu are silent on the issue,” Mr. Gupta alleged, urging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in the matter.
He said the deaths were avoidable and the authorities cannot escape from its responsibilities.
“The government and SASB cannot escape from responsibility if adequate arrangements are not provided...It is shameful that head of the state has not uttered a single word over the death of the 62 yatries,” Gupta said.
VHP accuses Shrine Board, demands probe
VHP also accused Shri Amarnath Shrine Board of failing to ensure adequate medical facilities to the pilgrims and demanded a high-level probe into the death of the devotees en route the 3,888-feet-high holy cave in south Kashmir Himalayas.
“A high level enquiry should be conducted to find out the causes of death so that appropriate steps should be taken to avoid such happenings in future during the Amarnath yatra,” J&K VHP chief R K Dubey told reporters.
Over 60 people died due to heart attack and high altitude sickness en route the cave shrine in Kashmir Valley in just 16 days of the yatra, which started on June 25.
“The increasing number of deaths of the Amarnath pilgrims clearly shows there are inadequate medical facilities...It appears that the arrangements shown to be provided are all in papers,” Dubey said.
He alleged there is shortage of oxygen gas cylinders and medical staff along the yatra route.
Keywords: Amarnath Yatra, toll rises, VHP, Shiv Sena, protest rally, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board
Intial comments on thread are illmannered. Amarnath yatra is assosciated with sentiments of Hindu pilgrim. The state government is duty bound for the protection and providing infrastrature services to the pilgrims. Amarnath Yatra is a tough one and not like flying to Makka / jeruslm by air. We should learn to respect the sentiments of people. People go their for Darshan and not for dying, yatri/pilgrims do have family at large which waits for them and all times wishes for their safe journey. Shri Subhash Babu who died due to caridac arrest is my relative and have gone earlier also for amarnath yatra. If we can not have sentiments for family of deceased teerth yatri then we should refrain from making such non sense comments. Shri Subhash Chand ji has left an unmarried daughter behind. If state can not provide facilites and protect its citizen or visitor then its a shame on the part of the state.
Amarnath may be a religous journey that does not provide you immunity from physical limitations of man against ardous high altitude mountain climbing.One must be fit and trained to take such adventures. Blind religous faith wil not come to your rescue
I am 67 years old and had 6 grafts bypass surgery some years ago. I had just been to Amarnath yatra.I fully agree that yatra is tuff and dangerous but Yatris go of their own. N0body has forced them.They should make all the needed provisions of medical Fitness,adequate clothings, dietary requirements Route and mode of travel. They should not be over confident and should follow the given instructions. We were in a group of 10 people of variuos age groups.By lords blessings every body is ok.
I think everybody should religiously judge one's ownself ,his/her capabilities before leaving for yatra.Good luck to all who wish to go please take full precautions. if you have slightest doubt about your own self Please do not undertake the yatra.
@Mani Iyer,@Tauro: Shocking to see such comments guys! Are you guys saying that yatris should not take up the Amarnath yatra because its risky? Its an individual's decision to take up such yatra. But when they are decided on that yatra for a good reason, it is Govt's responsibility to protect its citizens like any others.
If Govt has the responsibility to take care of women who go to pubs and men who race along the highways, it has more responsibility to take care of its citizens who are on a spiritual voyage.
@Tauro providing medical facility & other facilities for comfort of yatris after regular interval is responsibility of state govt. Just because someone is fit does not mean state govt not prepare for accident, emergency.
Why should anyone complain when those who are going on the yatra are
going on their own ? The government can check all the yatris but then,
if after certification one dies, they will go to court.Hence, the
government should keep off and allow these VHP,Shiv sena leaders to
check the yatris before they take the Yatra.
if you are careful you get darshan of amaranath ji, if you are negligent you get amarathva.take care
Why make such a hue and cry. Many pilgrins deliberately go to die in the hope they get Moksha in dying in a Teerath Yatra. The political parties has no other work except protest on every issue to get future votes. Who asked the pilgrims to take such a strenous trip ?
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