One pilgrim was killed and six others were injured en route Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine on Friday morning.
The pilgrims were hit by a massive landslide near Devi Dwar on cable car route ahead of ArdhKuwari temple around 11:30 am. Inclement weather conditions prevailed in the area for last 24 hours. Following incessant rain in the area vulnerable areas along the route witnessed landslides.
On Friday, when a group of pilgrims, were passing through Devi dwar area near Himkoti, a massive landslide hit the track injuring seven pilgrims. The rescue operations were launched by the Shrine Board staff to shift the injured to nearby hospital in Katra.
According to local police, “seriously injured Suman W/o Rajveer hailing from Rewari in Haryana succumbed to her injuries after she was shifted to CHC Katra.
A five year old Saksham and Rajveer were both admitted in Naryana Hospital by the Shrine board authorities as they needed specialised treatment.
Four other injured pilgrims identified as Baby Tanvi 6 yrs D/o Yogendra Kumar R/o Bawal, Rewari (Haryana), Yogendra Kumar 34 yrs S/o Rajinder Prasad R/o Bawal, Rewari (Haryana), Asha Devi 38 yrs W/o Girijesh Sahni R/o Bhagwat Pur, Madhubani (Bihar), Giri Raj Sahni 42 yrs S/o Jugal Kishore Sharma R/o Bhagwat Pur, Madhubani (Bihar) were shifted to CHC, Katra for medical treatment.
last year, one head constable of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed after he was hit by a landslide at gate number 3 of Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan shrine on August 25.
Four pilgrims were killed and seven others were injured were injured after a big stone rolled down and hit them near cave shrine on August 6, 2016.
The annual Amarnath Yatra that was suspended due to inclement weather on Friday resumed after the improvement in weather. An official spokesman said that one second day of the pilgrimage, 8,150 yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave. As many as 14,247 pilgrims visited the cave in two days.
Reports said that various areas en-route holy cave in Baltal and Pahalgam witnessed heavy rainfall on Thursday night.
Meterological department has predicted more rains in coming days. Witnesses said that thousands of yatris had reached Baltal and Pahalgam to start their Yatra on Friday morning. However, they were stopped and not allowed to proceed towards the holy cave.
An official said that pilgrimage was suspended temporarily and due to improvement in weather, the yatra resumed from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes and thousands of stranded yatris started their journey towards holy cave.