News
Three Pilgrims Die of Oxygen Shortage During Manimahesh Yatra
Continuous rainfall forces authorities to temporarily suspend pilgrimage
Shimla, Updated At : 16:44 PM Aug 25, 2025 IST
The Manimahesh Yatra in Himachal Pradesh turned tragic after three pilgrims from Punjab lost their lives due to oxygen shortage during the journey.
The deceased have been identified as Aman (18) and Rohit (18), both residents of Pathankot, and Anmol (26) from Gurdaspur.
According to Bholaram Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Bharmour, Kulbir Singh Rana, the bodies are being brought to Bharmour for post-mortem, after which they will be handed over to their families.
Preliminary reports suggest that Aman was rescued from Kamal Kund but died later at Gaurikund. Rohit collapsed on the Kugti trek, while Anmol passed away at Dhanchho. Teams from the Mountaineering Training Institute and the NDRF have been deployed to bring their bodies down to Bharmour.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has forced authorities to temporarily suspend the yatra. Pilgrims have been advised to remain at safe shelters until weather conditions improve.
The annual pilgrimage, which began on August 16 and is scheduled to conclude on August 31, has been severely disrupted by adverse weather. This year alone, 14 pilgrims have died so far due to oxygen shortage, landslides, and falling rocks.
Officials have urged devotees to remain cautious and strictly follow safety advisories during the journey.
Continuous rain over the past two days has wreaked havoc in Chamba, triggering multiple landslides and flash floods that have badly disrupted road connectivity. Power and water supply have also been severely affected.
Most major roads in the district remain blocked. The Pathankot–Bharmour National Highway is obstructed at Kalsuni Jangi and Durgethi, bringing vehicular movement to a complete halt. The Chamba–Pathankot, Chamba–Tissa, Chamba–Chowari, and Dalhousie–Khajjiar routes are also blocked. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Chamba district on Monday.
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