JODHPUR/JAIPUR, June 25, 2013: Flash floods in Uttarakhand are not the only reason behind the death of several pilgrims. Many stranded people at various places died due to lack of medical facilities in the hilly state. Their families are still inDehradun and are waiting for the bodies.

Chandra Kant (46), a diabetic from Jodhpur, breathed his last in his wife's lap on June 19.

"My brother Chandra Kant, his wife and I had gone for pilgrimage on June 16 along with a nine-member group. Due to heavy rain and landslide we were stuck at Rambara near Kedarnath where no help reached us. My brother whose sugar level was going down was not able to walk," said Rani while talking to TOI over phone from Dehradun.

"His condition deteriorated but we had no medicines or food. My sister-in-law kept his head in her lap trying her best to relieve him of the discomfort, but he breathed his last in her lap on June 19", said Rani.

She added that when the rescue team arrived at the spot her brother was already dead. "They have assured to bring the body to us, but the chance is meagre," she said.

Likewise, 55-year-old Jagdish Prajapat, a native of Khari Meethapur village in Jodhpur district had gone on the pilgrimage with his parents and grandmother. Jagdish lost his father and mother in the tragedy. "My father died of sickness at Gauri Kund as we could not arrange medical aid for him", cried Jagdish.

As if this was not enough, Jagdish's mother fell unconscious after witnessing her husband's death and fell down in the valley. "I will never be able to overcome this shock where I lost both my parents in front of my eyes. I never felt so helpless in my life, as a son I could not do anything for them," he added.

Holding her 13-year-old granddaughter's hand, 45-year-old Manohar Devi Sharma was forced to return to Chaksu without her husband. For five days she frantically searched for her husband in the rain-ravaged state, however she could not locate him.

"The pain of a woman who has to leave behind her husband and return home is unimaginable. However, she had to do so for her granddaughter's safety," a relative said.

Source: The Times of India, DT. June 25, 2013.