Kedarnath, Yamunotri
close for winter
Rudraprayag, Nov 15: The portals of Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas were closed for the winter season on Wednesday. The doors of Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva, were closed at 8:30 am and those of Yamunotri at 11:57 am. Braving the intense morning cold, more than 2,500 pilgrims attended the closing ceremony at Kedarnath, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee chairman Ajendra Ajay said. The temple remains snowbound during winter. Kedarnath and nearby areas are already covered in snow and have been swept by cold winds. After the temple doors were closed, the ‘Panchmukhi Doli’ of Lord Kedarnath carried by the temple priests left for the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, where the deity will be worshipped during winter. More than 19.5 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath this season, Ajay said. The doors of the Yamunotri temple, which is also part of the Char Dham circuit, were also closed for devotees. Goddess Yamuna will be worshipped for six months at her winter abode Khushimath in Kharsali village of Uttarkashi. The doors of the Gangotri Dham were closed on Tuesday and those of the Badrinath Dham will be closed on November 18. (PTI)
Cancer patient falls from balcony, dies
New Delhi, Nov 15: A man from Bihar died after he fell from the balcony of his third floor residence in east Delhi on Wednesday, police said. The deceased was identified as Sharda Nand Manjhi, 47, a native of Bihar’s Gopalganj. According to police, at 3.45 am information was received that Manjhi was admitted at Max Hospital by his son Rahul, and died during the treatment. Acting on the call, a police team reached the hospital and during inquiry, it was found that Manjhi was a cancer patient. “He had come to his son-in-law in Delhi for treatment and was admitted in Max Hospital,” said police. On Tuesday, Manjhi was taken home as doctors declared their inability to improve the condition. “At about 3 am, Manjhi woke up for natural call but fell from the balcony of his house. He was brought to Max Hospital where he succumbed to injuries,” said the official. (PTI)