QUETTA/GWADAR: Five pilgrims belonging to Zikri community died of heat and thirst while going on foot to Koh-i-Murad in Turbat area of Kech district. Two of the deceased were teenagers.

They had left their village in Bundi-Kappar area in Gwadar district for Turbat six days ago to participate in the annual religious rituals of Zikri community at Koh-i-Murad. While travelling in the Dadey desert area of Gwadar district, local people spotted three bodies and informed the administration about them.

Personnel of Levies Force and police found five bodies at two places. They brought the bodies to district hospital in Gwadar.

“Five pilgrims travelling to Koh-i-Murad on foot have died because of dehydration as mercury rises to 48

to 50 centigrade in the area these days,” Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar Abdul Hameed Abro said. “Thirst and dehydration caused the deaths,” hospital sources said.

The administration handed over the bodies to relatives after completing formalities.

The deceased were going on foot to Koh-i-Murad

The deceased were identified as Hameed, Ibrahim, Dili, son of Murad Bakhsh, Sagheer, 15, and Nisar, 17.

Tens of thousands of people from Zikri community throng Koh-i-Murad on Ramazan 27 every year to perform their annual religious rituals.

The number of Zikris in Balochistan is estimated at between 400,000 and 500,000 souls. Most of them live in Turbat, Gwadar, Pasni, Jewani, Panjgur and Lyari area of Karachi.

Sources said that thousands of Zikri community people, including women and children, had arrived in Turbat over the past four days. On Wednesday (today) they will gather at Koh-i-Murad to participate in their final religious rituals. The rituals start on Ramazan 15 and end on the 27th.

In view of perceived threats to the pilgrims, the administration has made security arrangements in Turbat and around Koh-i-Murad. “Heavy contingents of police and the Frontier Corps have been deployed in the areas,” an administration official told Dawn.

Earlier this year, at least six people were killed in an attack on a place of worship of the community in Awaran district. Some people of the community were injured when gunmen attacked a bus in Nal area of Khuzdar district.

Published in Dawn ,July 15th, 2015

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