Char Dham Yatra: 201 pilgrims died in less than 60 days

201 pilgrims have died in less than 60 days since the start of the Char Dham Yatra, as per the Uttarakhand health department.

As per the data shared by the state government, the Badrinath shrine on Sunday was visited by 4,308 pilgrims, taking the overall tally to 8,58,091 this season. Kedarnath witnessed 4,229 visitors, taking the tally to 8,02,033. Gangotri was visited by 4,229 devotees with the overall tally being 4,23,272. Yamunotri saw 3,435 pilgrims, taking the overall tally to 3,27,107.

Out of these figures, 95 people succumbed to death at the Kedarnath shrine, followed by 51 in Badrinath, 42 in Yamunotri and 13 in Gangotri.


According to officials, 40% of deaths in Kedarnath occurred before Gaurikund, either in hotels or while travelling, showing that cardiac patients regularly chose to make the pilgrimage rather than heed their physicians' recommendations.

Doctors have recommended ‘strengthening’ medical facilities in the Char Dham region. Currently, there are a total of ten medical facilities in the vicinity of Kedarnath and Gaurikund. Every alternative one has a doctor on duty.

While Dhan Singh Rawat, the health minister, had earlier assembled a group of medical professionals to provide recommendations for their improvement.