Lahaul and Spiti: Two pilgrims killed, 11 injured on snow-covered track

Two pilgrims were killed and 11 others suffered minor injuries after slipping on a snow-covered trail while undertaking the Parikrama at Drilbu Ri Kora in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district early Thursday, officials said.

The deceased were identified as 74-year-old Dawa Doma Bhutia from Darjeeling in West Bengal and 64-year-old Yangzin, daughter of Kunu Ram and a resident of Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti.

The incident occurred at around 4.30 am when sudden snowfall made the high-altitude pilgrimage route slippery, officials said. The two pilgrims reportedly lost their footing on the snow-covered track and fell, sustaining fatal injuries.

Following the incident, teams from the district administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached the site. The injured pilgrims were rescued and taken to a hospital in Keylong for treatment, while the bodies were recovered from the spot.

The district administration has announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 25,000 each to the families of the two deceased pilgrims.

Post-mortem examinations are being conducted at the Keylong hospital, officials said. Further details about the incident are awaited.

with the inputs from PTI