Emphasis on increasing health facilities in Chardham Yatra, passengers will get the facility of helicopter and boat ambulance
Preparations for the upcoming Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand have intensified. So that better facilities can be provided to the devotees coming from the country and abroad on the Chardham Yatra. In this sequence, the Health Department has taken many important decisions to provide better health facilities to the devotees. Under which not only 154 ambulances will be deployed in view of the Chardham Yatra. But the facility of helicopter and boat ambulance will also be available for the devotees. Along with this, it has also been decided to expand health facilities on the Chardham Yatra routes. Giving more information, Health Secretary R Rajesh Kumar said that this time two new hospitals are being opened in Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham. 17-bed hospitals are being built in Kedarnath and 45-bed hospitals in Badrinath. Where travelers will get the best health facilities. Apart from this, 25 specialist doctors will be deployed on the Chardham Yatra route. So that the devotees can be given immediate medical assistance during emergency. Apart from this, 20 Medical Relief Posts (MRP) and 31 Health Checkup Centers will be set up on the Yatra route this year. Who will check the health problems of the pilgrims related to high altitude.
Also told that 37 permanent health centers have been arranged in transit districts like Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri and Tehri. A plan has been made to create new screening points. The Health Department has decided to deploy 154 ambulances on the Yatra route. Which includes 17 Advanced Life Support Ambulances. Apart from this, helicopter ambulances operated by AIIMS Rishikesh and boat ambulances will also be available in Tehri Lake. So that the devotees can be given the benefit of immediate medical facility during the emergency.
The Health Secretary said that last year i.e. in 2024, more than 34 thousand cases of health related emergency were reported. In which 1,011 patients were sent to the higher center by ambulance and 90 patients by helicopter. In such a situation, the number of health friends (first medical responders) will be increased during the upcoming Chardham Yatra. So that the devotees can get immediate medical assistance during the journey. Health services are being upgraded technically. Under which the e-health dham portal will be upgraded. An e-button will be added to it. So that the passengers can get immediate help during emergency.
Apart from this, 28 important health parameters of the pilgrims will be checked immediately through the Point of Care Testing Device. Health Secretary Dr. R Rajesh Kumar said that last year lakhs of devotees had done the Chardham Yatra. Some devotees had health problems due to health problems related to high altitude. This time extensive improvement has been made in health services. For this, funds from the central government have been sanctioned as an incentive to health workers and budget has been approved for a 50-bed hospital in Guptkashi.
The Health Secretary said that this time it will be encouraged for pilgrims to compulsorily give information about their health. So that high-risk travelers can be identified before the journey. Apart from this, the emergency call center will be strengthened further. Along with this, people associated with hotels, dharamshalas, mule drivers and other local services on the travel route will also be trained. So that the safety of the pilgrims can be ensured. He also said that the state government is trying to make the Chardham Yatra 2025 safe and comfortable for the devotees not only spiritually but also from the health point of view.
