73 casualties recorded during 1st monthof Char Dham yatra, most health-related
Dehradun: As many as 65 pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham yatra this year died due to health issues, mainly cardiac-related, while eight were killed in accidents on the route, according to state govt sources.
Officials said that of the pilgrims who died due to heart-related and other complications, maximum were on the Kedarnath yatra (30) followed by Badrinath (15), Yamunotri (12) and Gangotri (8). Last year, 246 people had succumbed during the 6-month-long yatra due to a combination of health reasons as well as accidents.
Health secretary of Uttarakhand, R Rajesh Kumar said, "A large number of pilgrims were brought dead to the health facilities.
Still, this year, there are 10 fewer casualties as compared to the previous year in the corresponding duration." He added that "the screening of around 4.3 lakh pilgrims was conducted at health centres along with medical relief posts within the yatra's first month."
"A robust health infrastructure is in place on the yatra route. This includes 69 medical officers, 121 staff nurses, 26 pharmacists, 309 oxygen-equipped beds, 6 ICU beds, 13 departmental ambulances, one blood bank and two blood storage units," Kumar said.
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As per official data, pilgrims who died during the yatra mainly hailed from Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. Also, most of the fatalities took place among comorbid people aged between 45 and 65 years.
The pilgrims' health screening showed that around 17,800 people suffered comorbidities and were classified under the 'high-risk' pilgrims category. While 294 were referred to health facilities via ambulances, 3,900 pilgrims were counselled regarding red flags pertaining to their health and 29 were convinced to go back home and take up the yatra when in a better state of health.
Twenty-six pilgrims were taken to the healthcare centre by heli service in the ongoing first month of the yatra.
The four shrines are situated at elevations exceeding 10,000 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas, making the pilgrimage particularly challenging for individuals with underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or ailments related to the kidneys, liver, respiratory system, or heart. The high altitude results in lower oxygen levels and extreme cold, often plunging below freezing, which poses serious risks to those with comorbidities.
The annual yatra began with the opening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines on April 30, followed by the ceremonial reopening of the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples on May 2 and May 4, respectively.
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