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Alarm growsover rising Amarnath yatra toll
A fortnight since the annual Amarnath yatra commenced in Kashmir, the death toll of pilgrims has reached a staggering 51 on Monday, compelling the Shri Amaranth Shrine Board (SASB) to review the situation.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, who is an ex-officio chairman of the SASB that manages and regulates the yatra through two treacherous routes of Baltal and Pahalgam, summoned an emergency meeting attended by Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma and Director Health Services Dr Salimur Rahman.
On Monday, four pilgrims, all aged above 50 years, died primarily due to cardiac arrest while climbing up mountains to pay obeisance at Cave Shrine in Himalayan Mountains of south Kashmir. The latest deaths took the toll to 51 since beginning of the yatra on June 25. An ice stalagmite or Shiva lingam formed naturally in a cave attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims every year during summer.
“Various possible reasons for the progressing number of yatris losing their lives were discussed at length in the urgent meeting Raj Bhavan”, a SASB statement said.
The meeting discussed possible causes for the mortalities and short term remedies to contain and reduce the numbers of fatalities.
An SOS was shot off to all yatra officers to further augment healthcare facilities in the entire area.
A fortnight since the annual Amarnath yatra commenced in Kashmir, the death toll of pilgrims has reached a staggering 51 on Monday, compelling the Shri Amaranth Shrine Board (SASB) to review the situation.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, who is an ex-officio chairman of the SASB that manages and regulates the yatra through two treacherous routes of Baltal and Pahalgam, summoned an emergency meeting attended by Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma and Director Health Services Dr Salimur Rahman.
On Monday, four pilgrims, all aged above 50 years, died primarily due to cardiac arrest while climbing up mountains to pay obeisance at Cave Shrine in Himalayan Mountains of south Kashmir. The latest deaths took the toll to 51 since beginning of the yatra on June 25. An ice stalagmite or Shiva lingam formed naturally in a cave attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims every year during summer.
“Various possible reasons for the progressing number of yatris losing their lives were discussed at length in the urgent meeting Raj Bhavan”, a SASB statement said.
The meeting discussed possible causes for the mortalities and short term remedies to contain and reduce the numbers of fatalities.
An SOS was shot off to all yatra officers to further augment healthcare facilities in the entire area.
