During the ongoing Chardham yatra in Uttarakhand, an elderly devotee from Gujarat passed away, suspected to have suffered a heart attack, bringing the total death toll for this year’s pilgrimage to five, as confirmed by an official on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Suryakant Khamar, aged 73 and a resident of Gandhinagar district in Gujarat, reportedly experienced a sudden deterioration in health. He was swiftly transported to the hospital in an unconscious state for treatment. However, medical personnel at the hospital pronounced him dead upon arrival, stated the official. Following the necessary medico-legal procedures, the body will be released to the family.
The demise of the Gujarat devotee during the yatra marks the fifth fatality of this year’s Chardham Yatra, which commenced on May 10. Prior to this incident, four other pilgrims lost their lives at Yamunotri Dham, with the fifth casualty occurring at Badrinath Dham. On Monday, another tragic incident unfolded when a 75-year-old woman named Lakshmi Devi, hailing from Rajkot district in Gujarat, also passed away at Badrinath Dham, reportedly due to a heart attack.
Following these unfortunate events, Uttarakhand Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat convened a crucial meeting with relevant officials on Monday. During the session, the Health Minister instructed the Health Secretary to oversee operations at Kedarnath Dham, while assigning the responsibility of Badrinath Dham to the Health Additional Secretary. Furthermore, the Joint Secretary and Director General were tasked with managing affairs at Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams.
