One yatri died near cave, there was no stampede: Shrine board

Srinagar, Jun 19 (UNI) Rejecting the reports about stampede near the holy Amarnath cave shrine, a spokesman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said one person died a natural death.

Director Public Relations SASB Madan Mantoo told UNI that there was no stampede near the shrine as was being reported by some news channels.

The pilgrimage was going on smoothly, he said.

However, he said a yatri identified as V K Parvaji Bhai died near the shrine.

A yatra official from Baltal camp told UNI over phone that only one yatri had died near the shrine.

He said 12,184 pilgrims today left Baltal base camp for cave shrine till 0900 hrs. However, no pilgrim was allowed after 0900 hrs, he added.

The official yesterday said 20,000 yatris left the base camp for cave shrine. Majority of them had darshan of the shivlingam and they are on their way back to camp.

With the death of Parvaji, a total of four pilgrims--two at Baltal and one at Brarimarg-- have so far died during the past three days. They have all died of heart attack, sources said.

UNI BAS QAB BDP AS1342