Char Dham Yatra | 149 pilgrims succumb to ailments, accidents in two months

The initial 65 days of the annual Char Dham Yatra season in Uttarakhand saw the deaths of 149 pilgrims. Over 31,78,000 people have visited the Badrinath-Kedarnath-Gangotri-Yamunotri shrines since the beginning of the yatra season that started on April 22, 2023.

The initial 65 days of the annual Char Dham Yatra season in Uttarakhand saw the deaths of 149 pilgrims. Over 31,78,000 people have visited the Badrinath-Kedarnath-Gangotri-Yamunotri shrines since the beginning of the yatra season that started on April 22, 2023.

Of the 149 deaths, 72 were reported from Kedarnath only. Till June 26, 28 pilgrims had died in Yamunotri, and 27 pilgrims died in Badrinath and 16 in Gangotri, respectively. Six pilgrims also died during the yatra of Hemkund Sahib, the Sikh shrine where doors were opened on May 26.

According to State Disaster Management officials, most of the deaths were caused by prolonged ailments among pilgrims, who could not bear the harsh weather conditions and tough terrain. Some of the pilgrims also died due to accidents on their way to temples.

“Most of the deaths were due to heart attack,” an official from the Health Department said. The official added that most of the deceased were elderly who had failed to acclimatise to the weather.

In 2022, over 300 people died during the Char Dham Yatra.

In the first 65 days of the yatra this year, 10,61,889 persons visited the Kedarnath temple; 9,61,939 pilgrims visited Badrinath; 5,61,490 pilgrims visited Gangotri; and 4,83,340 pilgrims visited Yamunotri.

About 1,03,080 pilgrims also visited Hemkund Sahib.