Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 12: In a review meeting held here today P. K. Tripathi, CEO of the Shrine Board, informed Governor N.N. Vohra, Chairman of the Board, that 7 pilgrims had, during July 2 to 12 lost their lives in the Yatra area due to cardiac failures, out of more than 1.33 lakh Yatris who paid obeisance at the Holy Cave.
CEO reported that, as earlier directed by the Chairman, the camp directors were taking all necessary action to have the dead bodies embalmed and incurring the required costs to ensure that the bodies were got delivered to the next of kin of the deceased, in their home towns, transporting them by air and also providing an attendant, wherever necessary.
The CEO informed that the Shrine Board, in coordination with State Health Department, Army, State Police, CRPF, BSF, SSB and NGOs has made elaborate arrangements for providing medical facilities at all the camps and enroute the shrine. A total of 67 Medical Camps have been set up on the Yatra route, at every 2 kms to provide medical aid to the Yatris. The State Government has established 5 Base Hospitals, 9 MACs, 14 EACs and other medical facilities with adequate number of doctors and health professionals, modern equipments and medicines.
Doctors and paramedics have also been deployed by the Union Health Ministry from various prestigious hospitals which include medicos from AIIMS, Safdarjung and RML Hospitals in Delhi and P.G.I Chandigarh. Besides, doctors have also been deputed by the States of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana to provide Medical Care facilities in the entire Yatra area.
For the first time, the State Health Department has set up 6 special Oxygen Kiosks (with oxygen concentrator) at critical locations between Wavbal and MG Top, Panjtarni and Sangam Top, Sangam Down and Sangam Top, at Lower Cave; between Lower Holy Cave and Kalimata Top; and at the start of Holy Cave Stairs. These oxygen Kiosks are in addition to the Oxygen Concentrators which are available at each Base Hospital.
The Shrine Board has put in place arrangements for providing immediate help and in rescuing Yatris in distress. 8 Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs), each comprising 10 highly trained personnel of the State Police, have been located at various vulnerable places enroute Holy Cave to undertake immediate evacuation of any Yatri in trouble. Besides, 10 teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and 2 MRTs of CRPF have also been deployed in the Yatra area at vulnerable locations to assist Yatris.
In response to the Governor’s direction to the CEO to urgently issue a fresh appeal to all the Yatris to strictly follow the Health Advisory and Do’s and Don’ts issued by the Shrine Board, the latter has yet again urged pilgrims to come fully prepared after achieving physical fitness before undertaking the pilgrimage.
The CEO has further advised the Yatris to consult their physician before proceeding for pilgrimage in case there is any change in their status of health after having obtained Compulsory Health Certificate some weeks earlier.
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