Srinagar, July 4
Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra has expressed serious concern over deaths of 22 pilgrims during the first nine days of the Amarnath pilgrimage.

Most deaths have occurred due to cardiac failure. At a meeting of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board held here today, the Governor, who is also the chairman of the board, directed the CEO to re-issue and properly publicise the health advisory for the pilgrims.

It was reiterated that all devotees who wish to undertake the yatra must fully adhere to the list of dos and don’ts issued by the Shrine Board. The list is also available on the Board’s website.

Those having breathing trouble, heart disease or orthopaedic ailment should not undertake the arduous yatra, which involves a high-altitude (14,000 feet) trek. Inclement weather is an additional challenge for the pilgrims. Any yatri who feels uneasy during the trek must immediately seek medical assistance. Doctors and paramedical staff have been deployed on both routes - Pahalgam and Baltal.

Even those yatris, who are in a good physical condition, have been advised to carry basic medicines with them.

Of the 22 yatris, 13 died due to cardiac failure. Of the total, 15 were males and seven females. Of them five were from Punjab, three each from Haryana and Gujarat, two each from Rajasthan and Karnataka and one each from West Bengal, Jharkhand, UP, MP, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.

Preet Pal Singh, additional CEO of the Shrine Board, disclosed that in case a yatri dies, the Shrine Board at its own expense shifts the body from the place of death to the base camp. From there the body is taken to the Police Control Room at Srinagar for post-mortem and other formalities. In some cases, the Board also provides the required financial support for transporting the dead to their native places. Navin K Choudhary Chief Executive Officer of the SASB, and other officers concerned were also present.