Tuesday, 07 June 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The State Health department will remain in contact with people undertaking the pilgrimage to Char Dham shrines and Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. The department will especially remain in touch with those who have been permitted to undertake the pilgrimage after providing an undertaking considering their health issues revealed during health screening. Such pilgrims are being informed especially about the helpline number 104 for health related information so that in case of health issues during the pilgrimage, they can contact 104 to reach the state control room and access swift medical assistance.
Health secretary Radhika Jha has directed the chief medical officers of all the districts connected to the Char Dham Yatra, to prepare a list of all such pilgrims at the health screening centres from whom an undertaking is being taken. This list should be provided at the State headquarters so that swift assistance can be provided in case of undesirable situations through the 104 helpline which will also be helpful in sending them to the nearest health facility. It is pertinent to mention here that health screening of pilgrims to the Char Dham is being conducted at nine locations. Since the start of the Yatra till date, 2, 38, 646 persons have undergone health screening while 3,280 have given undertaking while deciding to carry on with the pilgrimage at their own risk.
The Health secretary said that all such persons need to be tracked so that their lives can be saved with swift medical assistance in case they face any serious health issues during the pilgrimage. According to official data, more than 80,000 people on Char Dham Yatra have so far availed the benefit of health services. Out of these, 6,091 were provided medical assistance in emergency situations. According to information provided by the State control room, 81,308 persons have used the health services from health units on Char Dham routes. Further, 471 injured persons were treated, 408 were referred to higher centre by ambulance while 31 were referred by helicopter to higher centre for treatment.
