53 Amarnath pilgrims killed in terror attacks

New Delhi, July 26: As many as 53 Amarnath pilgrims have been killed in 36 terror attacks since 1990, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said: "From 1990 to 2017 (till date), 36 terrorist attacks have been reported on Amarnath Yatris in which 53 were killed and 167 injured."

The minister, however, said that all possible arrangements were being made by the Jammu and Kashmir government duly supported by the central government by deploying additional security forces to strengthen the security of the Amarnath Yatra.

Ahir said the duration and schedule of the pilgrimage were based on the decisions taken by the Amarnath shrine board.

"The duration of the Yatra is limited to one side by the extent of snowfall in the preceding winter and on the other side by the date on which Raksha Bandhan falls, on which date the Yatra is traditionally concluded."

So, he said, the duration of the pilgrimage varies from year to year. This year, it began on June 29 and will culminate on August 7.