Hyderabad: A woman pilgrim from Serilingampally, Hyderabad, was confirmed dead in an accident during inclement weather earlier this week during the Manasarovar yatra in Nepal. Officials identified the victim as Pullicharla Lakshmi, who was in a group of 60 pilgrims who were returning after completing the yatra.
This is the first fatality of a state pilgrim during this year’s yatra. Three others died when the pilgrims were stuck in Hilsa in Nepal’s Simikot region when heavy snowfall blocked the yatra. The victim Pullicharla Lakshmi, was in a group of 60 pilgrims who were returning from the yatra. This is the first fatality of a state pilgrim during this year’s yatra. Three others died when the pilgrims were stuck in Hilsa in Nepal’s Simikot region when heavy snow blocked the yatra.
Officials said Lakshmi, said to be in her mid-50s, died on July 4 at the Gangavaram district hospital in Sonamarg, Nepal. Doctors said the cause of death was an accident. In the confusion, Lakshmi was separated from her husband Pullicharla Rajendra, who was taken to another hospital.
A total of 64 pilgrims from Telangana state were stranded in Nepal on their way back from Mansarovar. On Thursday, the first batch of 35 pilgrims were flown to Lucknow from where they are likely to reach Hyderabad by Friday.
Mr S. Venugopalachary, special representative of the TS government in New Delhi, told this newspaper: “Lakshmi was separated from her family. A few of them are yet to be traced. Her husband is safe.” He said the TS government had asked the Indian Embassy in Nepal to make arrangements to send her body to Hyderabad in a special flight for which the government would bear the expenses.
The state government has reserved rooms in Telangana Bhavan for the pilgrims to rest before proceeding to their native places.
