70 health facilities, 100 ambulances in ready-mode ahead of Yatra: DHSK

Director DHSK Dr Mushtaq Ahmad addressing a press conference at Srinagar on Saturday. -Excelsior/Shakeel
Director DHSK Dr Mushtaq Ahmad addressing a press conference at Srinagar on Saturday. -Excelsior/Shakeel

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 25: The Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) today said that 70 healthcare facilities apart from nearly 100 ambulances have been kept ready ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra.
Director of Health Services, Kashmir Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather said that from the Banihal Tunnel right up to the holy cave, 70 healthcare services which include 6 base hospitals, medical aid centers, emergency aid centers, and 26 oxygen booths have been kept in read-mode
“In addition to that we have 11 on-route facilities and 17 other hospitals available while there are also 100 critical and basic care ambulances kept in ready mode; more than 100 ambulances are available from both the routes,” Dr. Mushtaq said while addressing a press conference here.
He said that all the hospitals on the route will have an emergency response system including all the manpower available round the clock. “Apart from that, we have 2 dedicated 70-bedded hospitals up and ready at Chandanwadi and Baltal.”
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Director said that there used to be only 20-bedded hospitals on both sides, but, he said, this year, they have focused on increasing the bed capacity from both sides which has now reached 100 beds from both sides.
Further, Dr. Mushtaq said that after every 2 kilometers, there will be medical facilities available for the yatris. “In addition to that, we have kept movable oxygen booths and movable emergency systems on the route; all these facilities are available after every 2 kms,” he said.
He said that for the yatra this year, the DHSK has kept ICU beds available from both Baltal and Chandanwari sides apart from the Liquid Medical Oxygen facility for 25 beds on both the routes leading to the holy cave.
Concerning the staff which will be stationed for yatra duties, he said that nearly 1500 people which include doctors, medical and paramedical staff will be deputed for the Amarnath Yatra duty in three shifts while as all the necessary measures have already been taken to attend to the healthcare needs of the yatris in case of any emergencies.