SC forms committee to probe Amarnath deaths

Moved by the growing number of casualties of Amarnath pilgrims due to lack of basic amenities, the Supreme Court on Friday set up a high-powered panel to recommend measures to prevent such deaths.

Moved by the growing number of casualties of Amarnath pilgrims due to lack of basic amenities, the Supreme Court on Friday set up a high-powered panel to recommend measures to prevent such deaths.

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The panel has been formed under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir governor, also the chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

The panel would comprise secretaries of ministry of environment, home affairs, health and child welfare and the chief secretary of the state.

It would also include director generals of state police, paramilitary forces CRPF and BSF and the Border Road Organisation. Shrine board CEO and an environmentalist would also be part of it.

The court's direction came a week after it took suo motu cognizance of newspaper reports. It has asked the committee to visit the place before the shrine closes on August 3.

A report recommending measures to be taken to augment facilities has to be submitted to the court by August 10. The court would take up the matter for further hearing on August 13.

"It has become a regular affair and a permanent problem. We want a committee of responsible officers ... Lakhs of people go there and there are innumerable deaths. Passages are very narrow and people fall and die," the bench observed.