Five Zikri pilgrims die of hunger, thirst

Pilgrims lose their way in hilly terrain, die of starvation and thirst

QUETTA:

Five pilgrims from the Zikri community en route to a pilgrimage site have died of starvation and thirst in the Pasni area of Gwadar district. Their bodies were found by herdsmen in an unfrequented area on Tuesday.

SHO Gwadar Chakar Baloch told The Express Tribune that six days ago the pilgrims, all residents of Pasni, had set out on foot for a pilgrimage to Koh-e-Murad, a shrine in Turbat district which is a sacred to the Zikri community.

“Koh-e-Murad is a three-hour drive from Pasni but these men apparently lost their way in the hilly terrain and died of starvation and thirst,” SHO Baloch said.

Read: Baisakhi festival: Over 2,000 pilgrims to visit Punja Sahib

“Some herdsmen discovered their bodies in the Kapar area of Pasni and informed the police,” he added.

SHO Baloch said the deceased were later shifted to the Pasni hospital, where they were identified as Abdul Hameed, Ibrahim, Nisar Ahmed, Sahgir and Dili. “Authorities have handed over the bodies to the families after completing medico-legal formalities,” he added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2015.