Most of the passengers are dying due to heart failure. Four pilgrims died in Kedarnath Dham on Friday night.
Dehradun: 56 pilgrims died within 16 days of the start of Chardham Yatra. This includes 40 passengers above 50 years of age. 47 pilgrims have died due to heart attacks and pulmonary edema (excessive amount of fluid in the air cells of the lungs).
A maximum of 27 pilgrims have died so far on the Yatra route to Kedarnath Dham. Till Friday morning this figure was 23, but in the evening four more pilgrims died of heart attack in Dham.
Chardham Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri Yamunotri are located in the high Himalayan regions. Where along with cold, lack of oxygen causes breathing problems. In the Chardham Yatra, which began on May 10, 52 pilgrims have died in 15 days due to cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema, hypothermia (heart stops due to low body temperature) and severe head injury.
Regular screening of devotees is being done
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the death of 52 devotees who had come for the yatra. Said, most of the dead passengers are above 60 years of age. Most of the deaths occurred due to heart failure. Regular screening of devotees is being done on the yatra route. Doctors are advising those devotees whose health is not good during the health checkup not to travel. Even after this, if someone is going on a journey, action is being taken to get them to fill the form in writing.
This advice to pilgrims
The Health Department has instructed the pilgrims coming on the yatra to take precautions regarding health in the higher Himalayan areas. While climbing Kedarnath and Yamunotri Dham on foot, take rest for five to 10 minutes after every one to two hours. Carry warm clothes for travelling, raincoat for protection from rain, umbrella, pulse oximeter and thermometer for health check-up. Passengers suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes should keep necessary medicines and doctor’s number nearby. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting during travel, seek first aid at the nearest primary health center or medical relief.
Dham death toll
Kedarnath 27
Badrinath 14
Yamunotri 12
Gangotri 03
Total- 56
