Srinagar, Jul 15: Two Amarnath pilgrims today died of cardiac arrest, taking the toll in the ongoing yatra to the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas to 59, official sources said.
Arvind Bhai (51) and Passu Bhai (45), both residents of Gujarat, died at the holy cave and Baltal respectively shortly after complaining of chest pain, the sources said.
Meanwhile, over 16,000 pilgrims proceeded towards the 3,880 meter high cave shrine of Amarnath from the base camps of Nunwan and Baltal this morning.
The yatra was briefly suspended this morning due to inclement weather but the pilgrims were later allowed to proceed after authorities reviewed the condition of the track, the sources said.
They said while 10,968 pilgrims were allowed to move from the traditional 42-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, 5,245 others took the shortest Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
The yatra was progressing smoothly, the sources said adding nearly 3.75 lakh pilgrims had paid their obeisance at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam since the commencement of the 46-day yatra on June 29. PTI
