Delhi trekker dies on Shrikhand route in Himachal

Our Correspondent

KULLU, JUNE 29

A trekker has died on the Shrikhand yatra route at Nirmand in the district. Ashutosh Garg, DC, Kullu, had banned the yatra due to Covid.

Was part of a group

• A group of six youths parked their car in Jaon village and left for the Shrikhand peak on June 25
• Tarun (25) from Delhi fell while crossing a glacier in Parvati Bagh and succumbed to his injuries

DSP Ravinder Negi said a group of six youths parked their car in Jaon village and left for the Shrikhand peak on June 25. Tarun (25) from Delhi fell while crossing a glacier in Parvati Bagh and succumbed to his injuries. He said a rescue team of the police and the administration left for the spot.

The DSP said Ayush Kumar and Akshit of Rohru, Sunil Kumar of Chaupal in Shimla district, Arun of Anni and Jai and Tarun of Delhi started trekking on the yatra route without informing the administration or the police. Tarun fell during trekking and died. The rescue team would bring back the body by this evening.

The yatra to the 18,000 feet Shrikhand Mahadev peak has been banned for the second consecutive year due to Covid. The yatra is held from July 15 to 30 and hundreds of pilgrims take to the 32-km trek, which takes 3 to 5 days to pay obeisance to 72-foot-high lingam of Lord Shiva.

The DC said it would not be possible to conduct the yatra this year as well following the guidelines of the government and the State Disaster Management Authority.

The DC appealed to people not to undertake the yatra as it might put their lives at risk. He said police check posts had been set up at Jaon and Singhgad to prevent anybody from undertaking the yatra. He added that action would be taken against violators.