Amarnath Yatra: Nepalese Devotee Dies After Falling Ill, Four Hurt in Road Mishap

A 61-year-old Amarnath Yatra pilgrim from Nepal died after falling seriously ill during his return journey from the holy cave shrine, while four other pilgrims sustained minor injuries in a separate road accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Banihal on Thursday, officials said.

The deceased was identified as Krishan Dev Thakur , a resident of Mohatri in Kathmandu . According to officials, Thakur became unconscious near the Navyuga Tunnel in Banihal while returning via the Baltal route . He was initially taken to the healthcare facility at the Lamber Yatra Ground before being referred to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Banihal . As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to the Government Medical College, Anantnag , where he died during treatment.

In a separate incident, a taxi carrying registered Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to the Baltal base camp met with an accident in Banihal. The four injured pilgrims were identified as Varesh Yadav (44) and Usha Devi (55) from Faridabad, Haryana, and Natasha Sharma (28) and Neharka (20) from Uttarakhand.

Police and emergency response teams rushed the injured to SDH Banihal , where they were administered first aid. Hospital authorities said all four were in stable condition and remain under observation. Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

The twin incidents come as thousands of devotees continue to undertake the annual Amarnath Yatra , one of India's most significant Hindu pilgrimages. Authorities have deployed extensive medical teams, emergency response units, traffic management systems, and security personnel along both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes to ensure the safety of pilgrims traversing the challenging Himalayan terrain. The latest incidents underscore the physical demands of the pilgrimage and the importance of rapid medical response and road safety measures throughout the Yatra.