New Delhi: As many as 31 pilgrims have lost their lives owing to mountain sickness and other health problems since the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra on May 3, a health Official from Uttarakhand told news agency ANI.
“So far 31 pilgrims and one local resident of Badrinath have died in the 12 days since the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra. All of them died due to high blood pressure, heart attack, and mountain sickness," Uttarakhand Director-General Health Dr. Shailja Bhatt said.
She further added that the health screening of the pilgrims is being done at points created on the travel routes.
On Friday, the state health department started the facility of health screening at the entry and registration site of Char Dham Yatra on the order of Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Dr. Shailaja Bhatt further informed, "Health screening of passengers has been started at Rishikesh ISBT registration site. A health screening camp has been set up at Pandukeshwar for the pilgrims of Dobata and Hina and Badrinath Dham on the Yatra route of Yamunotri and Gangotri respectively."
She added that pilgrims who are found to have any health problems are being advised to take a rest or go on the journey only after becoming fit, ANI reported.
The Char Dham Yatra began with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri portals for devotees on May 3, on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. While Kedarnath re-opened on May 6, the doors of Badrinath opened on May 8.