Two Pilgrims Die, 11 Injured in Snow-Slip Incident During Parikrama in Himachal

Two pilgrims were killed and 11 others suffered minor injuries after they slipped on a snow-covered track while performing Parikrama at Drilbu Ri Kora in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul and Spiti district, officials said on Thursday.

The incident occurred at around 4.30 am when the high-altitude area witnessed sudden snowfall, making the track slippery and difficult to navigate, according to officials.

The deceased were identified as Dawa Doma Bhutia, 74, a resident of Darjeeling in West Bengal, and Yangzin, 64, daughter of Kunu Ram and a resident of Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti.

Officials said the two pilgrims slipped on the snow-covered path and fell, sustaining fatal injuries.

Following the incident, teams from the Lahaul and Spiti district administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushed to the spot. The rescuers evacuated the injured pilgrims and recovered the bodies of the two deceased.

The injured were subsequently shifted to a hospital in Keylong for medical treatment. Officials said the injuries suffered by the 11 pilgrims were minor.

Post-mortem examinations of the deceased are also being conducted at the Keylong hospital, officials said.

The district administration has provided immediate financial assistance of Rs 25,000 each to the families of the two deceased pilgrims.

The incident occurred during the pilgrims' Parikrama at Drilbu Ri Kora, a high-altitude route where sudden weather changes can make the terrain hazardous. The snowfall early Thursday morning resulted in slippery conditions on the track, officials said.

Authorities and rescue personnel responded to the incident after receiving information about the pilgrims slipping on the snow-covered route.

Further details about the incident and the condition of the injured pilgrims were not immediately available.