Three others injured; no new batch allowed to proceed due to safety concerns
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD): A woman lost her life and three others were injured on Wednesday after a landslide struck a section of the Baltal route during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. In response, authorities have temporarily halted the pilgrimage from Jammu as a precautionary measure.
The incident occurred near Z-mode, close to Upper Railpathri, where a landslide triggered by rainfall swept several pilgrims downhill while they were en route to the holy cave shrine.
Rescue teams responded swiftly, evacuating the injured to the Baltal base camp hospital. Despite efforts, one of the victims — identified as Sona Bhai, wife of Dara Ram from Rajasthan — was declared dead upon arrival.
Officials said the decision to suspend fresh pilgrim movement from Jammu was taken due to the risk posed by ongoing landslides and inclement weather along the route.
The Amarnath Yatra, an annual pilgrimage drawing devotees from across the country, has seen intermittent disruptions this year due to persistent rainfall in the upper reaches. Authorities have urged yatris to follow weather updates and adhere strictly to safety advisories(DD)