Staff Reporter Margao
A 60-year old pilgrim from Curchorem constituency who had travelled in the government-sponsored train to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh mela, died following a cardiac arrest on Tuesday.
Social Welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai said that the person, identified as Rama Pednekar, along with his family had left in the train on February 13.
Stating that it was unclear what happened, Phal Dessai said that upon receiving an alert from volunteers of the Social Welfare Department, they were informed that the pilgrim was rushed to hospital.
Pednekar was declared dead on arrival. “There were difficulties in taking procession of the body. After the post mortem, the body was taken to Varanasi,” he said.
The body was air-flown to Goa on Tuesday evening.
In an appeal, Phal Dessai said that only those who have no health issues and are capable of handling themselves should travel to the Maha Kumbh.