Heat kills 4 Jain pilgrims in Guj town
Temp Rising, People Warned To
Avoid Sun
Rajkot:
The continuing heat wave in Gujarat claimed more lives on Sunday
with four pilgrims dying of a heat stroke in Palitana town of
Bhavnagar district. The pilgrims were among thousands attending
a five-day Jain function, Suripat Rajat Jayanti Mahotsav, at the
foothills of Shetrunji hills.
About 50,000 devotees from across the country had gathered
for the religious event. “The incident took place when some
devotees started ascending the hills for darshan. Due to extreme
heat five persons collapsed and were rushed to Mansinghji
Hospital, where four persons died during treatment,’’ a source
said.
SUMMER OF DISCOMFORT
Bhavnagar district collector D G Jhalawadia said, “Four
persons have died during a Jain religious function near
Shetrunji hills.’’
Three persons who died were identified as Hansa Shah, 57, of
Ahmedabad, Chanda Jain, 59 and Rajendra Jain, 55, of Jodhpur
while the identity of one person is still to be established. “We
had issued an advisory earlier asking people not to venture out
between 11 am and 4 pm due to the heat wave conditions. On
Sunday, we have reissued a warning while collectorate officials
and the chief medical officer have rushed to the spot,’’
Jhalawadia said.
The maximum temperature reported in Bhavnagar on Sunday was
40° Celsius, Met officials said.
There was no respite from heat in other parts of the state
with temperatures above 40°C being reported from several places
in Saurashtra, north and central Gujarat. Amreli in Saurashtra
recorded 43.3°C, four degrees above normal, Ahmedabad touched
44.7°C, Deesa in north Gujarat recorded 43.3 °C.
(INPUTS BY SANDESH)
Tirupati shrine sees 50% drop in devotees
Tirupati: The intense heat wave has resulted in a poor
turnout of pilgrims to the Tirumala shrine, which usually
witnesses a record attendance during summer.
Usually from the last week of April till the first week of
June, about 30-35 lakh pilgrims visit the temple town. “However,
this time around, the turnout has dropped by 50% due to the
prevailing heat wave conditions,’’ said a temple official. Close
to one lakh pilgrims from all parts of the country swarm the
temple town during the holiday season, but the turnout now
stands at 60,000.
R Purushottam, a resident of Tirumala, said, “We have been
staying here for the past 50 years. The temperature in Tirumala
has never crossed 35°C even during peak summer. But this year,
it has crossed 40°C in the hill town.’’ Initially, the Tirumala
Tirupati Devasthanams top brass was worried on how to manage the
huge crowd during the holiday season. But with the mercury
hovering between 43-46°C in Tirupati, the pilgrim rush from has
fallen considerably. TNN