DEHRADUN: As many as 48 deaths have been reported on the Char Dham yatra route since the annual pilgrimage to the Himalayan shrines commenced on May 3. Out of the 48, 46 deaths took place due to heart attacks at the high-altitude shrines.
According to the state government data (updated till May 19), 16 pilgrims have died at Yamunotri this season -- nine on the trek route, two near the temple and five on the road route.
Three deaths have been reported at Gangotri -- one near the shrine and two on the temple route. Meanwhile, 20 pilgrims have died on the route to Kedarnath temple since its portals opened on May 6. Also, nine devotees died on the way to the Badrinath shrine which opened for pilgrims on May 8.
Authorities maintain that hypothermia (drop in body temperature) and post Covid-19-related complications were the major cause of the deaths. Swinging into action to reduce calamities, the state government has deployed health staff and air ambulance services at the yatra route.
When queried on what is being done to address the deaths, health minister Dhan Singh Rawat, who has been asked by the CM to look after the arrangements at Kedarnath, told TOI, “Many of those who passed away had earlier tested positive for Covid-19 and were suffering from post-Covid health-related issues.
However, the situation is well under our control now. We are doing all we can to ensure there are no fatalities. We have kept a portable oxygen facility at every 500 metres of the yatra trek route. There are around 50 health teams on two trek routes of Kedarnath.”
The minister added, “We have also provided an air ambulance to airlift any pilgrims and bring them to the hospital at Srinagar or Dehradun. In addition, we are also ensuring that there is no dereliction of duty by our staff and the required medical attention and facility is provided to pilgrims in need.”
