Enhanced healthcare ordered for Amarnath pilgrims
July 9th, 2012 - 10:11 pm ICT by IANSSrinagar, July 9 (IANS) Concerned over the deaths of 47 pilgrims due to natural causes during this year’s annual Amarnath Yatra, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra Monday directed the authorities to take immediate steps to enhance healthcare during the Yatra.
Various possible reasons for the progressing number of Yatris losing their lives were discussed at length in an urgent meeting held Monday at the state Raj Bhavan under the governor’s chairmanship who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB).
The governor stressed that all possible causes for the mortalities should be critically analyzed to reduce the numbers of fatalities. In this context, he directed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the SASB to issue immediate instructions to all concerned officers in Yatra camps to further augment healthcare facilities on the entire Yatra route.
The governor asked the state health secretary to take immediate action to provide oxymeters at various locations to check the oxygen levels of the Yatris reporting at the health camps.
The governor also asked for increasing the deployment of specialist doctors at the base camps and at critical places like Brarimarg, Sangam, PissuTop, Zojibal, Nagakoti to attend to the seriously ailing patients.
The annual pilgrimage to the 13,000 feet high Himalayan Hindu cave shrine began here June 25 and will end August 2 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.
So far, nearly three hundred thousand pilgrims have had a glimpse of the ice lingam inside the cave shrine. The ice stalagmite structure is believed by the devotees to symbolize the mythological powers of Lord Shiva.
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- Heavy rain disrupts Amarnath pilgrim's movement - Jun 25, 2012
- Amarnath Yatra ends peacefully - Aug 13, 2011
- 15,000 pilgrims start this year's Amarnath Yatra (Lead) - Jul 01, 2010
- Preparations begin for Amarnath pilgrimage - Mar 21, 2012
- Last leg of Amarnath yatra - chhari mubarak leaves Srinagar - Aug 08, 2011
- Weather improves, Amarnath pilgrims allowed towards shrine (Lead) - Jun 25, 2012
- Amarnath pilgrimage registration from May 7 - Apr 21, 2012
- Amarnath Yatra interrupted due to bad weather - Jul 04, 2010
Tags: amarnath pilgrims, amarnath yatra, base camps, chairmanship, chief executive officer, health camps, health secretary, healthcare facilities, ice lingam, jammu and kashmir, lord shiva, oxygen levels, sangam, shravan, shri, shrine board, specialist doctors, srinagar, state health, vohra