Humanity first: amid unrest, Kashmir Muslims risk lives to save Amarnath pilgrims

Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday hailed the exemplary effort of the residents of Halmulla, Bijbehara and the adjoining areas who, amid trying circumstances, helped and evacuated the Amarnath Yatris injured in a road accident on Jammu-Srinagar highway today. As the pilgrims cried for help, locals – who were on their way to offer morning prayers – came to their rescue and arranged vehicles to take them to hospital.

The Amarnath Yatra, which was suspended from the past two days due to curfew in many parts of Kashmir valley, resumed on Monday. The movement of shifting them to Delhi has begun and we are waiting for further developments. “The driver and a pilgrim died on spot while 28 others are being treated in different hospitals”, the official said and identified the deceased as Parmood Kumar of Uttar Pradesh and driver Hilal Yousuf Mir (19) of Central Kashmir’s Kangan town.

She also held a high-level meeting of officials here with regard to the pilgrims, an official press release said.

27 persons, including 25 yatris and a “ponywalla” also suffered injuries mostly due to the fall while trekking the arduous 3,880 metre-high route to holy cave which houses the naturally formed ice-shivlingam, they said.

“I saw a local and asked him for help”.

Meanwhile, the death toll following protests in Kashmir against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani on 8 July has mounted to 34.

The pilgrims left the Baltal base camp at around 1 am and reached Srinagar in the wee hours. “We did everything to feel them comfortable”, said a volunteer Sheikh Tasaduq Hussain.