| 2 more yatris, one porter die; toll reaches 18 | | | Jasbir Sarai | 7/17/2015 11:30:53 PM |
| Early Times Report
Javaid Naikoo
Srinagar, July 17: Two more yatris and a porter died en route to Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to 18.
Officials said Ujesh Rawal, 47, a resident of Mumbai, suffered cardiac arrest at Panjtarni site along the Pahalgam route on Thursday evening.Another pilgrim Charanjeet Makaar, 58, of Punjab, died near Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
A local porter identified as Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, also died on Thursday evening when he was struck by lightening in Panjtarni.With these three deaths, the death toll along the twin routes has reached 18, officials said.Over 2.25 lakh pilgrims so far paid obeisance at the holy cave, they said.According to reports, panic gripped at different places in Pahalgam and Baltal sites where pilgrims are camping after heavy rains lashed the areas followed by lightening on Thursday night.Cloud bursts in Pahalgam and Baltal areas destroyed public property, creating hurdles for smooth functioning of the Yatra on Friday morning. However, authorities pressed men and machinery into service to clear pathways, and later the yatra was resumed smoothly. Bad weather is playing spoilsport in the 59-day Amarnath Yatra, as the pilgrimage was suspended for two consecutive days last week. |
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