Pilgrims found unfit during random checks to be barred

Our Correspondent

Jammu, July 2

The J&K government has issued instructions to doctors to scan Amarnath pilgrims for fitness who appear not in a good health. Officials have been asked to not allow any unfit pilgrim to proceed towards the Amarnath cave shrine.

Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, said instructions had been issued to medical teams at all halting or resting points and the base camps to hold visual screening of those appearing unfit randomly and conduct tests to check their fitness.

“Based on visual screening, those who appear not in good health should be made to undergo tests. This has to be insisted even if a pilgrim is reluctant. Pilgrims not fit or facing health issues should undergo tests and should proceed for pilgrimage only if they are fully fit as sudden death can occur at high altitude due to co-morbidities. Testing facilities are available at all the halting points and camps,” Dwivedi stated.

Cardiac arrest has been the major reason behind deaths en route Amarnath cave shrine because of lack of oxygen in the area. The last pilgrimage held in 2019 witnessed over 22 deaths. While the pilgrims are required to get a fitness certificate before they start the yatra, health issues can occur en route.

Even the Union Ministry of Health has provided medical help to the UT this year by establishing two 50-bedded hospitals at the base camps of Baltal and Chandanwari.

As per official information, the J&K government, through the Director Health Services (DHS Kashmir), had requested for 155 medical personnel (87 doctors, 68 paramedics) from the Central government hospitals. J&K had also requested for 437 medical personnel (154 doctors, 283 paramedics) from 11 states and UTs, including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, West Bengal and Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, the fourth batch of 6,113 pilgrims, including 1,292 women, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Amarnath shrine. The pilgrims also comprised 195 sadhus and 25 children. Over 20,000 pilgrims have offered their prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam, since the commencement of the 43-day yatra on June 30.

Of the latest batch of pilgrims, officials said 4,173 left in a convoy of 148 vehicles for the Pahalgam base camp while another 1,940 pilgrims preferred the Baltal route and departed in a fleet of 80 vehicles. With this, 23,214 yatris have left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Valley since June 29. (With PTI inputs)

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