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Landslide kills 3 Hindu pilgrims in Indian-controlled Kashmir
NEW DELHI, July 4, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – At least three Hindu pilgrims were
killed and three others injured after being hit by a landslide triggered by
heavy rains in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Wednesday.
The landslide occurred Tuesday night near Baltal in Ganderbal district,
around 110 km north of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled
Kashmir.
“Last night three pilgrims were killed and three others injured after a
landslide hit them near Baltal route,” a police spokesman told Xinhua. “The
injured including two local pony potters were immediately taken to the
nearest medical facility.”
In view of the inclement weather the pilgrimage has been temporarily
suspended.
The spokesman said earlier on Tuesday two pilgrims suffered a cardiac
arrest and died.
The pilgrimage to Hindu cave shrine of Amarnath perched high in the
Himalayas located 3,888 meters above sea level began last Thursday.
About 55,000 pilgrims have visited the shrine so far, shrine board
officials said.
Indian-controlled Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides are often
triggered from its mountains during frequent rains.
BSS/XINHUA/GMR/1148 hrs