SRINAGAR: A 24-year-old labourer engaged in assisting pilgrims during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra was killed after being struck by a shooting stone along the traditional Pahalgam route to the holy cave shrine on Sunday, officials said.
The deceased was identified as Shabir Ahmad Shah, son of Mohammad Yaseen Shah and a resident of Cheerward in the Mattan area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. He was helping pilgrims on the route when a boulder came crashing down from a hillside, leaving him critically injured.
He was immediately evacuated and shifted to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries despite doctors’ efforts to save him.
His body was taken to Pahalgam Hospital for medico-legal formalities before being handed over to his family. Police have registered the incident and initiated further proceedings.
Shah was among hundreds of local workers who play a vital role during the annual pilgrimage by assisting devotees with baggage, transportation and other logistical support along the yatra route.
The incident occurred even as the pilgrimage continued uninterrupted. Earlier on Sunday, a fresh batch of 9,153 pilgrims, including 2,345 women and 18 children, left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu for the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan under multi-tier security arrangements.
According to officials, more than 2.30 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the naturally formed ice lingam at the Amarnath cave shrine since the 57-day pilgrimage began on July 3. The annual yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
