Amarnath yatra: Jawan, four pilgrims die of cardiac arrest

Srinagar, Jul 6: Four pilgrims and an army jawan died of cardiac arrest enroute to the

shrine in south

, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to 37, officials said today.

The jawan, identified as Naik Sant Lal, a resident of Haryana, collapsed during patrolling in Brarimarg area along Baltal-cave route, the officials said. Lal was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The officials said three women pilgrims Gori Rani (35) and Santosh (45), both hailing from Punjab, and Barti (55) of Andhra Pradesh died at Baltal and Brarimarg last evening.

Another pilgrim, Ram Krishan (62) of Haryana, also suffered a heart attack and died at Dumail on the Baltal-cave route yesterday, the officials said.

The annual yatra, which commenced on Jun 25 from the twin routes of Baltal in Ganderbal district and traditional Pahhalgam in Anantnag district, was going on smoothly.

"As many as 2,35,105 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam by last night," the officials said.

They said over 15,000 more pilgrims offered their prayers at the shrine by this afternoon, while nearly 20,000 others have reached different halting stations enroute to the temple.

PTI