Three pilgrims died during Amarnath yatra due to various causes, and two Mansarovar pilgrims died while over 1,500 others returning from Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet are stranded in Simikot in Nepal’s Humla district due to incessant rain and bad weather on Tuesday.
Of the six who died in this year’s yatra en route to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, Pushkar Joshi, a resident of Uttarakhand, who was injured by a shooting stone between Brarimarg and Railpathri on Monday, succumbed to injuries at hospital early on Tuesday, an official said.
Other pilgrims to die this year included one BSF officer, one palanquin carrier and one yatra volunteer.
Authorities said inclement weather and difficulties in flying in Simikot, Hilsa and Tibet, where the Indians are stranded, slowed the rescue operations though seven commercial flights were pressed in service on Tuesday.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj earlier said Kathmandu had been requested to provide Army helicopters to evacuate the Indians.
The Indian Embassy here said it was in touch with the Nepali Army, which had kept helicopters ready for rescue mission as and when the weather improved.
According to officials, 158 pilgrims were airlifted from Simikot while 200 pilgrimages were brought back from Hilsa. They said if the downpour continues, the rescue operations will be completed only by Thursday. Most of the stranded hail from southern India.
Mount Kailash, in the Tibetan region of China, is considered the abode of lord Shiva and is sacred to Hindus. located near lake Mansarovar, the place is considered holy by Jains and Buddhists as well.
“Besides two deaths on Monday and Tuesday, no major health risk has been reported. Food is available and the Nepali government has provided paramedical facilities to the pilgrims,” said Pranav Ganesh, First Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.