Three pilgrims from Punjab died on their way to Manimahesh in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district, reportedly due to shortage of oxygen, officials said on Monday.
The deceased have been identified as Aman (18) and Rohit (18) from Pathankot, and Anmol (26) from Gurdaspur.
According to officials, one of them died on Sunday night while two others passed away on Monday due to lack of oxygen. Their bodies are being brought to Bharmour for post-mortem before being handed over to their families.
Officials said Aman was rescued from Kamal Kund but later died at Gaurikund. Rohit collapsed on the Kugti trek, while Anmol died at Dhanchho. Teams from the Mountaineering Training Institute and the NDRF have been sent to bring their bodies down.
The Manimahesh Yatra, which resumed on Sunday, has again been suspended because of heavy rain and landslides, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Bharmaur, Kuldeep Singh Rana said. Pilgrims have been asked to stay in safe shelters until conditions improve.
The pilgrimage began on August 16 and is scheduled to end on August 31. However, bad weather has disrupted the journey. This year, 14 pilgrims have lost their lives so far due to oxygen shortage, landslides, and falling rocks.
The established route to the Manimahesh lake is the Chamba-Bharmour-Hadsar route, which requires a 13 km trek from Hadsar to Manimahesh, with a night halt at Dhancho. There are alternative routes to Manimahesh from the Lahaul-Spiti, Kangra, and Mandi districts.
Heavy rains over the last two days have triggered flash floods and landslides across Chamba, blocking major roads and cutting off power and water supply in many areas. The Pathankot–Bharmour National Highway is blocked at Kalsuni Jangi and Durgethi, while routes connecting Chamba to Tissa, Chowari, Dalhousie, and Khajjiar are also closed.
The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Chamba on Monday. Officials have urged devotees to remain alert and strictly follow security advisories during the journey.
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