1 Amarnath pilgrim from MP dies; toll reaches 44

Srinagar, Jul 23: One Amarnath pilgrim from Madhya Pradesh died at Sheshnag last night, official sources said.

With this, the total toll since the commencement of the two-month pilgrimage to the holy cave on June 11, has risen to 42. Majority of the pilgrims died due to heart failure.

The sources said a sadhu, Muna Lal of Madhya Pradesh, suffered a massive heart attack at Panjtherni last night.

Sources said despite rains near the cave periphery, the yatra was going on smoothly from the shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam routes.

So far, about 2.60 lakh pilgrims from all over the country and abroad have 'darshan' of the 'Shivlingam' in the cave shrine despite threat perception and 'icelingam' controversy.

UNI