Death of 20 pilgrims in six days, the journey is taking a toll on the lives of sick and elderly devotees

Within six days of the start of Chardham Yatra, 20 pilgrims going to Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham have died. In the midst of chaos and difficult conditions, the life of old and ailing pilgrims is piling up on foot. Claims are being made by the government and the health department that there should be adequate arrangements for health services on the Chardham Yatra routes. But there is not even adequate arrangement for accommodation with health services on the difficult pedestrian routes of Kedarnath and Yamunotri Dham.

According to the information received till Monday, 14 passengers had died in Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham. There is also a Nepali laborer among them. Apart from these, there are reports of the death of five devotees in Kedarnath and one in Badrinath. Thus the death of 20 pilgrims in six days has worried the organizers of the yatra and the administration.

After two years due to the Kovid epidemic, the Chardham Yatra is being operated at full capacity. In Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri dhams, more than twice the capacity of the pilgrims are reaching for darshan, due to which the devotees are facing chaos in the dhams. This time, within six days of the commencement of the yatra, 20 pilgrims have suddenly died while on foot. This includes the deaths of three pilgrims on Monday.

For Kedarnath and Yamunotri Dham, pilgrims have to travel a difficult path. Pedestrians passing through high altitude areas lack oxygen with the cold. In such a situation, patients suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, asthma are at risk of deteriorating health in climbing on foot.

So far many passengers have died suddenly in Chardham Yatra. Eight passengers died in Yamunotri, two in Gangotri and five in Kedarnath. Teams of doctors, paramedical are deployed for health services on the travel routes. Adequate arrangements have been made for medicines, ambulances along with doctors in medical units on the travel routes. In high altitude areas, there is a complaint of increased blood pressure due to lack of oxygen. If a traveler is already suffering from any disease, then they should travel after taking medical checkup after consulting a doctor.

- Dr. Shaileja Bhatt, Director General of Health