Srinagar, December 29: As many as 232 Indian pilgrims, including 12 from Jammu and Kashmir, died in holy cities of Mecca and Medina during Hajj-2009.
A 44-year-old woman pilgrim Hajra Gul wife of Ghulam Mohammad Wani from Jammu and Kashmir, died at Jeddah on December 23 due to heart attack shortly before she was to travel India, official sources told.
They said, with this a total of 12 pilgrims from the state died during 2009-Hajj in holy cities.
Majority of the deceased pilgrims have died due to heart ailments while some of them lost their lives in road accidents.
Two pilgrims, who arrived here from Delhi in the last Hajj flight from the state, were shifted to hospital after landing here.
Sources said highest number of 56 pilgrims, who died during pilgrimage, were from Uttar Pradesh followed by Gujarat 25, Maharashtra 23, Kerala, 16, West Bengal and Rajasthan 15 each, Tamil Nadu 13, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir 12 each, Karnataka 10, Bihar nine, Madhya Pradesh seven, Jharkhand six, Assam three, Haryana two, Delhi, Lakshdeep, Punjab, Manipur, Goa, Chhatisgarh, Banglore and Uttrakhand one each.
–Agencies