22 Amarnath yatris die this year

Jammu, Aug 19 (PTI) At least 22 pilgrims lost their livesduring this year’s Amarnath yatra in Jammu and Kashmir. "While 20 pilgrims died in South Kashmir Himalayas due tomedical reasons, two others died in an accident along theJammu-Kashmir national highway," a Shri Amarnath Shrine Board(SASB) officer said. Last year 26 pilgrims and one service provider had dieddue to health reasons. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra expressed "concernand sympathy" over the loss of lives and stressed the need foridentifying "fresh and further measures" which could preventcausalties in future yatras. The pilgrimage to Amarnath cave shrine concludedyesterday. Over 2.20 lakh yatris paid obeisance at the holy caveshrine this year. The yatra had commenced on July 2 along both the Baltaland the Pahalgam routes in Kashmir Valley. PTI AB AQS ZMNAQS