Chardham Yatra 2023: Increase in number of sick devotees, more health screening being done in Gangotri-Yamunotri Dham
Dehradun (IANS) | Since the commencement of the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand, thousands of devotees from India and abroad are reaching the Char Dham every day. At the same time, the number of sick pilgrims coming on the yatra also seems to be increasing rapidly. The current situation is that thousands of people are getting themselves screened and treated daily. Not only this, so far many people have been sent back from the pilgrimage route without having darshan, who despite being ill are coming to visit the holy places. Taking lessons from the last Yatra, this time health services on the Yatra route have also been improved by the Government and the Health Department. That’s why sick devotees are being given immediate treatment by the health department. If you look at the figures so far, the passengers are facing more problems in Kedarnath Dham.
The state government is constantly appealing that the devotees should come to visit Char Dham while taking care of their health. On the other hand, according to the information received from the Health Department, the number of devotees seeking treatment in the holy places has increased rapidly. Everyday about 2500 people are reaching OPD for treatment in Dhams. Apart from this, many cases of emergency, injured and referred are also coming to the fore.
The state government is compulsorily screening the devotees above 55 years of age coming to the Dhams. This is the reason why about 10,000 people are being screened daily. According to the statistics of the Health Department, so far about 20 thousand 600 people have taken advantage of OPD in Kedarnath Dham. Along with this, screening of 6 thousand people has been done. Apart from this, 2919 cases of emergency, 257 cases of injury as well as 68 people have been referred to Kedar Dham. Apart from this, 20 people have been sent back from the Kedarnath Dham Yatra route so far due to ill-health of the devotees. A total of 35 people have been sent back from the four Dhams so far.
Out of the four Dhams, maximum health screening of the devotees is being done in Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham. According to the statistics of the Health Department, so far about 72 thousand devotees have been screened in Yamunotri Dham, in which more than 36 thousand devotees below 54 years of age and more than 35 thousand devotees above 55 years of age are included. Along with this, 15 devotees have been sent back from Yamunotri Dham so far. At the same time, screening of about 41 thousand devotees has been done in Gangotri Dham, in which about 24 thousand devotees below 54 years of age and about 18 thousand devotees above 55 years of age are included.
Chief Minister Dhami has said that the government is constantly warning the devotees about their health and weather so that no devotee faces any problem. The weather is constantly changing, in such a way the devotees are being told to check the weather before starting the journey and if the weather is not good, then stop the journey for a while.
Regarding health related arrangements in Dhams, DG Health Vineeta Shah said that adequate number of doctors and paramedical staff have been deployed for Chardham Yatra. The Health Department is trying to compulsorily screen the devotees above 55 years of age. Apart from this, some serious passengers have also been advised not to travel during the journey.
It may be noted that till May 12, 7 lakh 27 thousand 157 devotees have reached the four Dhams. So far 1, 39,186 devotees have visited Yamunotri Dham, 1,54,415 devotees in Gangotri Dham, 2,54,234 devotees in Kedarnath Dham and 1,79,340 devotees have visited Bhu-Baikunth Badrinath Dham so far.
–IANS
