Char Dham yatra: 3 pilgrims from different states die of heart attack
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The deceased have been identified as Ram Kumar, 62, from Uttar Pradesh, Bato Bai Yadav, 65, from Madhya Pradesh, and Venu Gopal, 70, from Tamil Nadu. Kumar was found unconscious near Bheembali on the Kedarnath trek route and was taken to a nearby health centre, where doctors declared him dead.
Yadav, who was on the yatra with her family, died near Janki Chatti on the Yamunotri route while Venu Gopal died in the Gangotri area.
Of those who have died on the yatra route during this year's pilgrimage, most succumbed to health issues, primarily cardiac-related, according to govt data. The four shrines are located at elevations exceeding 10,000ft in the Garhwal Himalayas, making the pilgrimage particularly challenging for individuals with underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or ailments related to the heart, kidney, liver and respiratory system.
The high altitude results in lower oxygen levels and extreme cold, often dipping below freezing, which poses serious risks for those with comorbidities. Pilgrims found with such conditions during health screenings are counselled about the associated risks.
Authorities have maintained that a robust health infrastructure is in place along the yatra route, including 69 medical officers, 121 staff nurses, 26 pharmacists, 309 oxygen-equipped beds, six ICU beds, 13 departmental ambulances, one blood bank, and two blood storage units.
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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