PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Governor lieutenant general (retd), Gurmit Singh has said ‘faith combined with caution’ should be the motto of the Char Dham Yatra. He said that the protecting health and lives of the millions of pilgrims visiting the State for the Yatra should be the top priority of the government.
He was addressing a seminar ‘Medical Problems and Road Accident Safety Measures during the Char Dham Yatra’ at Lok Bhawan on Wednesday. The seminar was organised by the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Medical Education University.
The governor said that pilgrims should undergo a health checkup before embarking on the journey and that awareness and encouragement, especially for the elderly, is essential.
Underscoring the importance of the ‘golden hour’ in road accidents, he said that timely medical assistance can save many lives.
Noted cardiologist and recipient of Padmashree, Dr SC Manchanda said that the travellers should get a health check-up before traveling. He said that the pilgrims should climb slowly and initially stay at moderate altitudes for one to two days to allow their body to acclimatise.
The head of department of Orthopedics at AIIMS Gorakhpur, Dr Ashutosh Tiwari discussed in detail the neurological problems common in the high Himalayan regions. He explained the effects of altitude, oxygen deficiency, and extreme cold on the brain and nervous system, detailing their symptoms, risks and preventive measures.
Health minister Subodh Uniyal, secretary to the governor Ravinath Raman, vice chancellor Bhanu Duggal and others attended the programme.
