201 pilgrims died during Char Dham: Govt data

Over 200 people have died so far during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, data released by the state government showed. The predominant causes of deaths are medical aliments among elderly pilgrims, it added.

Heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides are also posing a major challenge for the state government in the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

The yatra started on May 3 and is scheduled to end in the later part of October. So far, the number of pilgrims who embarked on the pilgrimage has crossed 250,000 but the numbers have been on a declining trend since a week.

According to the data released by the state emergency operation centre, Dehradun, 95 pilgrims have died on the Kedarnath yatra route, 51 in Badrinath Dham, 13 in Gangotri and 42 in Yamunotri.

Uttarakhand director general (health), Shailja Bhatt, said, “For the first time, the department has conducted health screening of passengers at nine places and health advisories are being issued regularly through pamphlets and other means. Pilgrims, especially the elderly, are being made aware of the risks in the yatra.”

She said 12 doctors have been deployed on Char Dham routes. “Unwell pilgrims are being rushed through Heli-ambulance to higher medical centres for timely treatment in case of emergency. The cause of death so far has been predominantly due to heart-related ailments. Pilgrims with a medical history are being persuaded not to embark on the journey further and an undertaking is being taken from them if they are adamant to continue their journey,” she said.

According to Bhatt, 20 temporary health centres have been set up on yatra routes where 178 more doctors have been posted — 66% more as compared to the 2019 yatra.