By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 29 May: With the unprecedented rush for Char Dham Yatra this year, the number of deaths of devotees on the Char Dham Yatra is also increasing. During the Char Dham Yatra which started on 10 May this year, over 10.12 lakh pilgrims have already visited the shrines so far. The number of deaths of pilgrims during the Yatra has already crossed 67. Most of the devotees have died due to cardiac arrest. In view of this, the Health Department has made medical history mandatory for the Char Dham Yatra. Along with this, the Char Dham Health Portal is also being developed. Through this, all the health-related information will be made available to the pilgrims. The government is also developing a mobile App for the convenience of pilgrims.
The increasing number of deaths of devotees on the Char Dham Yatra routes has emerged as a big challenge for the Health Department. According to the information received from the State Emergency Operations Centre, 67 devotees have died till yesterday evening. The maximum number of deaths have occurred during the Kedarnath Yatra, with 33 reported to have died there till last evening. So far, 16 pilgrims have died during the Badrinath Yatra, , 13 deaths have been reported on the Yamunotri Yatra, and 5 during the Gangotri Yatra.
Health Secretary R Rajesh Kumar has claimed that all the pilgrims above 50 years of age coming for the Char Dham Yatra are being compulsorily screened for health. Medical history is also being sought from them. He also stated that, if the pilgrims register for Char Dham Yatra on the tourism department’s website, then they are also given a notification to fill the medical history. So far it has not been made mandatory. But. in view of the number of deaths due to cardiac arrest, the health department has taken a decision to make it mandatory.
Dr Rajesh Kumar also stated that the Health Department is also developing the Char Dham Health App, which will be launched soon. The Health Secretary said that very few devotees have died in health centres. An undertaking is being taken on a prescribed form from such pilgrims who are not fit for the journey, but still want to travel to do so at their own risk. The department is providing all the information about all possible health risks on the Char Dham journey.
