DEHRADUN: At least 29 people died, mainly due to heart-related complications, at high-altitude shrines in the past nine days since the Char Dham yatra began on May 10.
The toll surged after three pilgrims lost their lives in the yatra on Saturday, including one in Badrinath and two in Yamunotri. Among the victims is Shashi Kant, a 49-year-old pilgrim from Surat, who died due to cardiac arrest during his visit to Badrinath, bringing the total deaths at the shrine to four.
Two more devotees lost their lives while visiting the Yamunotri shrine. Police said 53-year-old Kamlesh Bhai Patel from Gujarat fell ill on his way to Yamunotri and was declared dead at the nearest health centre. Another pilgrim, 54-year-old Rohini Dalvi from Pune passed away in hospital after falling sick in her hotel in Kharadi village in Uttarkashi. With this, the toll at the shrine has reached 11.
According to Dr B S Rawat, chief medical officer, Uttarkashi, 11 people have died in Yamunotri and 2 in Gangotri shrine. Sources within Rudraprayag administration revealed that the death count at Kedarnath shrine has reached 12, with six deaths occurring on Saturday alone, mostly due to heart-related issues.