Amarnath pilgrims allege harassment at hands of Civil Hospital officials

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 8

Devotees of Lord Shiva from local town and surrounding localities, who intend to undertake pilgrimage to Amarnath shrine in South Kashmir, allege that they are being harried a lot as officials at the local Civil Hospital have failed to issue them the mandatory health fitness certificate.

The officials at the hospital said preoccupied schedule of doctors owing to the ongoing corona vaccination drive, insufficient facilities to conduct diagnostic tests and radiological tests, and staff shortage were the major reasons behind the inability of the health authorities to examine the prospective pilgrims and issue fitness certificates.

Residents have urged the district administration to redress the issue and impress upon the authorities at Ahmedgarh Civil Hospital to issue medical fitness certificates at local level instead of asking applicants to visit government hospitals situated at distant localities.

Ahmedgarh SDM Vikramjeet Singh Panthey said he had advised the authorities at Ahmedgarh Civil Hospital to ensure that the applicants were not harassed.

“While I have been told that there is an acute staff shortage at the hospital and some facilities required for examination are lacking, I have asked the SMO to resolve the problem as soon as possible,” said Panthey.

The office-bearers and activists of various religious organisations, led by Bhartiya Mahavir Dal patron Deepak Sharma, alleged that doctors and officials at the hospital had been harassing around 40 devotees by not accepting their applications for issuance of health certificate, which is mandatory to be submitted at the time of registration for Amarnath pilgrimage.

“Majority of applicants are frontline workers and had been associated with projects undertaken by the health department. Instead of respecting their religious sentiments, authorities at the Civil Hospital have asked them to visit healthcare centres located at Amargarh and Malerkotla,” rued Deepak Sharma.

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