Pilgrim from Delhi dies enroute Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir

A pilgrim died on the way to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir owing to ill heath, police said on Wednesday.

Thirty-four-year-old Surender Gole from Northwest Delhi suffered cardiac arrest enroute the yatra and collapsed near the shrine on Tuesday, the police said.

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Gole was immediately rushed to a nearby clinic but doctor there declared him brought dead, the police added.

Thousands of pilgrims take on the yatra to the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi which is situated up in the high green mountains. The shrine is open throughout the year but the best time to visit the holy shrine is from March to October.

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According to common belief among the Hindus, the pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine is often taken after the devotee gets a spiritual call from the deity.

In view of frequent accidents on the yatra route, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board this year approved an enhancement of free accident insurance cover for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra in Jammu from the existing Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

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The enhancement in the insurance cover came after eight years and the premium was borne by the shrine board, a shrine board spokesman said.

The board had also announced enhancement of medical facilities for pilgrims en route Katra to the Bhawan.

"The accident cover extended to each pilgrim free of cost shall now be Rs five lakh instead of existing Rs three lakh for pilgrims aged five years and above and Rs three lakh for pilgrims below five years of age up from Rs one lakh at present," the spokesman told PTI.

(With inputs from agencies)