Jammu: A 61-year-old pilgrim from Nepal died after falling seriously ill during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, while 10 other pilgrims were injured in two separate road accidents on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and in Banihal, officials said on Friday.
The deceased, identified as Krishan Dev Thakur, a resident of Mohatri in Kathmandu, Nepal, fell unconscious near the Navyug Tunnel in Banihal while returning from the holy cave shrine via the Baltal route.
Officials said he was initially rushed to the healthcare facility at the Lamber Yatra Ground and later referred to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Banihal. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, where he died during treatment.
In a separate incident, six Amarnath pilgrims, including one critically injured, were hurt after the vehicle carrying them overturned near Toldi Nallah on the Udhampur-Chenani stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Friday.
Officials said the vehicle, carrying pilgrims to the Pahalgam base camp, skidded off the road and overturned.
All six injured pilgrims are residents of Baikunthpur in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. They were rescued by personnel of the CRPF, Army, Civil Defence, Traffic Police and Jammu and Kashmir Police and shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Udhampur.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said one pilgrim with critical injuries was referred to GMC Jammu, while the remaining five are in stable condition and undergoing treatment at GMC Udhampur.
He said he had directed the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur and health authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh also said he had spoken to the Udhampur Deputy Commissioner and assured all necessary assistance.
In another road mishap in Banihal, four registered Amarnath pilgrims sustained minor injuries after the taxi carrying them to the Baltal base camp met with an accident.
The injured were identified as Varesh Yadav (44) and Usha Devi (55) from Faridabad, Haryana, and Natasha Sharma (28) and Neharka (20) from Uttarakhand.
They were shifted by police and emergency response teams to SDH Banihal, where they were administered first aid. Hospital authorities said all four pilgrims are stable and under observation.
Police have initiated investigations into both road accidents.
