J&K: Death Toll Of Amarnath Pilgrims Climbs To 36 With 2 More Casualties

One of the most common causes of fatalities among Amarnath pilgrims and security forces stationed there is cardiac arrest caused by low oxygen concentrations at high altitudes.

With the recent deaths of two more pilgrims from Rajasthan, the number of fatalities during this year's Amarnath pilgrimage in the south Kashmir Himalayas has reached 36 news agency PTI reported citing officials on Saturday (July 22). Phateh Lal Manaria (who died at the holy cave) and Mangi Lal (who died at the Baltal base camp) were both 60 years old when they died. While Manaria died of cardiac arrest, the cause of Lal's death is still unknown, according to the report. 

"Two more Amarnath pilgrims have died, bringing the total number of fatalities in this year's pilgrimage in the south Kashmir Himalayas to 36. The two pilgrims were from Rajasthan," officials told PTI. 

"They were identified as Phateh Lal Manaria (who died at the holy cave) and Mangi Lal (who died at the Baltal base camp). They were both 60 years old. While Manaria died from cardiac arrest, the cause of Lal's death remained unknown and is still being investigated," they added. 

With these two deaths, the total number of deaths during the yatra this year has risen to 36, the report said. 

As per the report, one of the most common causes of fatalities among Amarnath pilgrims and security forces stationed there is cardiac arrest caused by low oxygen concentrations at high altitudes.

Over three lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine so far to see the natural ice lingam formation, according to the report. 

On July 1, the 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-meter-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas began from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal. The yatra is expected to end on August 31, it said.