Considering the tough hilly terrains of Uttarakhand as Char Dham Yatra could prove health hazardous for pilgrims, State Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi has also requested pilgrims to undergo complete medical tests before undertaking the Yatra. He also sent letters to the health ministers of the neighbouring states to issue directives to pilgrims before undertaking the Yatra. The requisition was sent to the health ministers of 21 States which are Odisha, Gujarat, West Bengal, Punjab, Goa, Kerala, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Delhi, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Tamilnadu. The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri were declared open on Monday, Kedarnath was re-opened for the pilgrims on Tuesday and Badrinath portal is schedule to open on Thursday.
Situated on the higher parts and tough hilly terrains of Uttarakhand, pilgrims face the heat as they traverse several kilometers to reach to the shrine. Besides, the all those patients are suffering from bronchial tracts infections and cardiac related problems are among the worst sufferers. Considering the plight of the pilgrims, State Health Minister SS Negi had written letters to the health ministers of the neighbouring states to urge pilgrims to undergo complete medical tests before undertaking pilgrimage.
The pilgrims are also requested to have complete stock of life saving drugs and doctor diagnostic slips before undertaking the pilgrimage. Negi has also issued directives to the medical, health and family welfare department to provide immediate and best medical facilities to pilgrims and further cleared that strict departmental action would be surely taken against those staff, who fail to perform as per the desired standards. While speaking to The Pioneer, Dr SD Joshi, senior physician, Doon Hospital said that all those patients who complain of cardiac, respiratory tract infections, asthma, diabetic and high blood pressure should take precautionary measures while undertaking pilgrimage in the State.
He further told that pilgrims should come with woolen clothes and medicines while coming to Uttarakhand due to the lower temperature in the mountainous and hilly parts of the State.