The health of a seer fasting for Ganga conservation declined on Friday and he was hospitalised at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh on Saturday morning.
Sant Gopaldas from Haryana is on fast since the past 111 days. After conducting agitations at Badrinath, Joshimath and other places, the saint had recently reached Rishikesh.
Gopaldas began his agitation on 24 June. After the death of environmentalist GD Agarwal alias Swami Gyan Swaroop, the Haryana-based seer announced continuing the fast for preservation and conservation of Ganga from the Matri Sadan.
But Gopaldas’ health declined suddenly on Friday evening. As he started suffering from loose motions, the followers and members of Matri Sadan in Haridwar informed the local administration about it.
A team of doctors was rushed to the ashram at about 2 am after which Gopaldas was admitted to AIIMS in Rishikesh.
The seer was administered fluids at the hospital. The condition of Gopaldas is presently stable and he is communicating via written notes.
GD Agarwal, a former head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at IIT-Kanpur, passed away on 11 October, after being on an indefinite fast since 22 June demanding the government fulfil its promises to clean River Ganga.