Three more Amarnath pilgrims die; death toll rises to 41

Three more pilgrims died of cardiac arrest enroute the 3,880 metre high Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir.

Three more pilgrims died of cardiac arrest enroute the 3,880 metre high Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir,taking the death toll during the ongoing yatra to 41,officials said.

Ramesh Bhai Patel (57) and Khatri Tinu Bhai (60),both residents of Gujarat,died on Monday night at the shrine and Baltal base camp respectively,the officials said.

They said another pilgrim,Sharad Kumar (61) of Hyderabad,died at Brarimarg along the Baltal cave route on Monday.

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With the death of the three pilgrims the toll during the yatra has risen to 41.

While 20 pilgrims and a driver died along the shorter Baltal route,20 others including a porter lost their lives along the traditional 42 km Pahalgam track,the officials said.

The yatra commenced on June 29 and so far over three lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine.

Meanwhile,nine Amarnath pilgrims were injured on Tuesday when two vehicles collided on the Jammu-Srinagar National highway in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.

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A Tata Sumo vehicle carrying the pilgrims on their way back from Kashmir collided with a passenger vehicle on the Highway at Rehmbal area,60 kms from Jammu,police said.

In the mishap,nine Amarnath pilgrims were injured and later hospitalised,they said,adding that the driver of the other vehicle fled from the spot.

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