Amarnath Yatra bus attack toll rises to eight

The deaths in the July 10 terror attack on an Amarnath Yatra bus rose to eight on Sunday after an injured pilgrim died in a Srinagar hospital, the police here said.

Lalita Ben was admitted in the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura in Srinagar, a police official said. The news of Lalitaben's demise comes a day after Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti met the Home Minister in New Delhi to discuss the security situation and foreign interests in the conflict-ridden state.

The unescorted bus from Gujarat came under attack in Batengo area of Anantnag district on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The attack left 18 others injured.

The passengers travelling in the bus were not registered with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), nor was the bus part of the escorted yatra convoy.

The attack was unanimously denounced by all quarters. Following the attack, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said the widespread condemnation showed how the spirit of Kashmiriyat was alive and every Kashmiri was not a terrorist

The state police said the attack was carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.