SRINAGAR : An ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh each has been granted by Shri Amarnth Shrine Board (SASB) to the two pilgrims, who were killed by shooting stones near Amarnath cave shrine today.
An official spokesperson here said that this amount is in addition to Rs one lakh insurance, under which all registered devotees are covered.
He said two worshippers, identified as Suresh Yadav, resident of Bedi Borhagaon, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Dara Singh, resident of Bhatinda in Punjab, were crushed to death when two large boulders rolled down the snow mountain near the holy cave at 0625 hrs.
The spokesperson said on being informed about the incident, Governor N N Vohra asked Chief Executive Officer RK Gupta and Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board Preet Pal Singh to take on the spot decision about the threat posed by the rolling stones and take other required action. “The CEO and Additional CEO immediately left for the Holy Cave in a State helicopter,” he said. After assessing the ground situation and holding consultation with the Camp Directors and Security Officers located at the Shrine, the CEO gave instructions regarding an immediate reconnaissance of the hill side, from which the rocks had rolled down.
He said arrangements have been made for the bodies to be transported from holy cave to Sonamarg for completion of legal and other formalities.
“The next of kin of the deceased are being contacted and all required support will be provided for their cremation or the bodies being transported to their native places,” he said. Both the deceased were duly registered yatris, as revealed by the documents recovered from their bodies. As per the Shrine Board’s Policy, all registered pilgrims who die in any accident during the Yatra period, are provided by an Insurance cover of Rs one lakh.
Meanwhile, on return to Srinagar, in consultation with the Governor, who is also Chairman of the Shrine Board, the CEO announced that besides the insurance money, the next of kin of the deceased, after due verification, would also be provided ex-gratia support of Rs one lakh in each case, on behalf of the Board.
“The Chairman also directed that expenditures on transportation of the bodies to their native places would be borne by the Board,’ the spokesperson said. (AGENCIES)
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