DEHRADUN: The pilgrimage to Uttarakhand’s world-famous Kedarnath shrine is heading for a new record, with more than 16.86 lakh devotees having offered prayers so far this year. But the rising footfall has also brought greater health risks in the high Himalayas, where thin air, heart ailments, chest pain and serious injuries can quickly become emergencies.
In the shrine’s remote, high-altitude setting, helicopter evacuations are proving vital in getting critically ill pilgrims to advanced medical care. Patients are first given initial treatment at medical relief posts along the route or at the hospital in Kedarnath. If their condition warrants it, doctors recommend transfer to a higher medical centre by air.
The same arrangement has helped evacuate patients from Madmaheshwar and other remote parts of the district. Less critical patients are taken to nearby hospitals, as required, through coordination between helicopter services and ambulances.
According to figures for January to September, 19 people were directly rescued by helicopter and taken to higher medical centres. Separately, 200 pilgrims were airlifted for emergency medical care.
Officials said cases have included breathing difficulty caused by low oxygen, heart problems, chest pain and serious injuries in accidents. The number of deaths during the pilgrimage season has been significant. By Thursday, 120 pilgrims had died in Kedarnath alone, while the toll across the Char Dham pilgrimage had reached 263.
“Seriously ill patients are referred to higher medical centres based on their condition and doctors’ advice,” district disaster management officer Nandan Rajwar told this newspaper. He said helicopter evacuation arrangements were in place at Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar, while patients elsewhere were taken to hospitals by helicopter or ambulance, depending on condition.
Evacuations
Helicopter evacuations are proving vital in getting critically ill pilgrims to advanced medical care
Patients are first given treatment at medical relief posts along the route or at the hospital in Kedarnath
If their condition warrants it, doctors recommend transfer to a higher medical centre by air
