Thursday, 26 May 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The snowfall and rain in Char Dham has created health issues for pilgrims visiting these shrines in the high altitude regions with the doctors and paramedical staff on Yatra duty doing their bit to tackle this challenge. According to official sources, on Wednesday 1,076 pilgrims on Kedarnath pilgrimage were treated at various treatment units with 251 of these persons being given life saving treatment in emergency situations. Seven pilgrims were referred to higher centre while three of them were transported safely by helicopter from Kedarnath. Health screening of 2,273 pilgrims was conducted while 56 were provided oxygen support during this pilgrimage. The Rudraprayag chief medical officer informed that due to rain and snowfall in the Kedar valley, most of the patients reaching the Linchauli hospital were afflicted by hypothermia. The CMO said that the helicopter service is proving to be a boon for seriously ill pilgrims. So far, 29 pilgrims were taken by helicopter and 105 were taken by ambulance to higher centre for treatment. Inclement weather is also causing inconvenience in the pilgrimage to Yamunotri and Gangotri. The Health department conducted health screening of 9,572 pilgrims at various places while four pilgrims were sent back from the Yatra ahead. On Wednesday, 52 patients were provided life saving treatment on these pilgrimages. Similarly, 185 pilgrims underwent health screening at various locations on the pilgrimage to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib. Further, 31 pilgrims were provided emergency treatment while seven were referred to higher centre. According to information received from the districts in which the Char Dham shrines are located, 1,16,957 pilgrims have so far undergone health screening.
