New Delhi : A woman lost her life while five other Amarnath Yatra pilgrims sustained injuries after incessant rainfall triggered rockslides and mudslides late Wednesday evening. The injured were rushed to the Baltal base camp hospital where one woman pilgrim was declared dead on arrival, officials said, adding the deceased was identified as Sona Bai (55), a resident of Rajasthan. The death toll in this year’s Yatra has reached 15.
Videos from the incident site, captured by the pilgrims, show the dramatic scenes of a muddy torrent sweeping away two pilgrims. People were seen holding onto the railings installed on the pathways, trying to save themselves. Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) swiftly launched a large-scale rescue operation to evacuate pilgrims trapped between affected stretches.
To assist pilgrims descending via Domail, two ambulances staffed with doctors, pharmacists, nursing assistants, and first-aiders from the CRPF have been stationed along with a ‘May I Help You’ desk to provide immediate medical care and assistance.
Despite a prior weather advisory predicting intense rainfall, the pilgrimage continued on Wednesday from both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. However, in light of the worsening weather and the need for immediate restoration work on damaged tracks, the yatra has been suspended for the day from both Chandanwari and Baltal base camps.
“Shri Amarnathji Yatra has been suspended for July 17 from both Pahalgam and Baltal base camps. Continuous heavy rains over the last two days have necessitated restoration work to be carried out on tracks along both routes. However, yatris who stayed at Panjtami camp last night are being allowed to proceed down to Baltal with adequate deployment of BRO and Mountain Rescue Teams,” Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bhiduri said.