In the past 36 hours, five pilgrims undertaking the Amarnath yatra in the south Kashmir Himalayas have lost their lives, bringing the total death toll to 24 for this year's pilgrimage, according to officials. Among the victims, one was a sadhu, while the rest were pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat.
The unfortunate deaths occurred due to cardiac arrest, which is a common cause of fatalities among Amarnath pilgrims, especially in the challenging high-altitude conditions. Four deaths were reported on the Pahalgam axis of the yatra, while one occurred on the Baltal route.
The identities of the victims have been disclosed, except for one individual who is yet to be identified. The casualties include an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer assigned to yatra duty, a sadhu, and a sevadar, as confirmed by officials.
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With an oxygen-deprived environment at high altitudes posing health risks, cardiac arrest remains a prevalent concern for both pilgrims and security personnel stationed in the region.
The pilgrimage, spanning 62 days, commenced on July 1 from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district. So far, a total of 1,62,569 pilgrims have embarked on the journey to witness the natural ice lingam formation at the revered cave shrine located at an elevation of 3,888 meters.
Despite the recent tragic incidents, the pilgrimage continues, with security measures and medical facilities in place to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.
