RUDRAPRAYAG, Apr 23: A 69-year-old pilgrim from Gujarat died of cardiac arrest in Kedarnath but his body remained stranded for over five hours before his family was forced to pay Rs 65,000 to a private helicopter operator for transport.
Dilip Bhai Mannu Mali from Vadodara collapsed near the White House area at 6.30 am Wednesday, just moments before the temple gates opened.
His son, Hemant Bhai Mali, said his father was declared dead at the Kedarnath Primary Health Centre at 7.30 am after losing consciousness during the trek for darshan.
The family alleged they were left stranded for hours despite pleas to the local administration.
“We requested the district magistrate for a helicopter, but no arrangement was made until 1 pm despite assurances. We eventually paid Rs 65,000 to a private company to fly the four of us, including my father’s body, to the base,” Hemant said.
District Magistrate Vishal Mishra did not respond to calls and messages from PTI seeking a comment on the family’s allegations.
Nodal Officer for Kedarnath Yatra and SDM Ukhimath, Anil Singh Rawat, said that the delay occurred because helicopter services were halted temporarily because of safety inspection protocols by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Several helicopter companies were conducting test flights at the time. Operations to Kedarnath resumed after the NoC was granted, Rawat said.
The delay comes despite a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) prepared by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) last year, which prioritises the air transportation of deceased pilgrims from the Himalayan shrine.
Officials at the Rudraprayag District Emergency Operation Centre said that Yatra Management Force (YMF) personnel eventually shifted the body from Kedarnath to Jamu. Under the YMF scheme, helicopter rescue is prioritised for medical emergencies, and body transport depends on resource availability, the officials said.
Health data released on Wednesday evening showed that of the 38,000 pilgrims at the shrine, only 424 underwent medical fitness tests. Only five devotees were flagged as unfit to continue the high-altitude trek.
While the administration maintains that a special plan is in place for pilgrim safety, the victim’s son expressed deep anguish. “I do not wish to blame anyone now, but we felt helpless for several hours during the ordeal,” Hemant said.
The family left for Gujarat in an ambulance late Wednesday night after completing formalities at the Rudraprayag District Hospital. (Agencies)
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