Pilgrim dies en route Amarnath shrine, death toll mounts to 14

Srinagar: A 65-year-old pilgrim died after suffering cardiac arrest en route Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas on Wednesday, taking the death toll in the ongoing pilgrimage to 14.

Dharam Raj (65), a resident of Ahmadnagar in Gujarat, died of cardiac arrest at Panjtarni along the traditional 45-km Pahalgam-cave route, the officials said.

With his death, a total of 14 pilgrims have died since the beginning of the 44-day yatra.

The yatra to the 3,880 metre high holy cave, housing the naturally formed ice-'shivlingam', commenced on June 28 and so far over 1.55 lakh pilgrims had offered prayers at the shrine.