Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 19: Governor N. N. Vohra, who is also Chairman, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, chaired a meeting here today to review the progress of the Yatra, particularly focusing on the medical problems of the pilgrims during the first 24 days of the pilgrimage. Besides Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO, SASB, both of whom were present in the meeting, the Governor held discussions with Sham Lal Sharma, Health Minister.
The CEO informed that according to the report received from Dr. Manmeet Singh, Incharge Medical Officer, Health Services Medical Aid Centre at the Holy Cave (he has been performing duty at the Holy Cave in the past six Yatras) and Dr. Yawar Yaseen, MD (Medicine) that of the 17 Yatris who lost their lives 7 were in the senior age group (4 were 60 years of age and 3 of 68, 70 and 72 years age, respectively) and the remaining 10 (in the 24-59 years age group) could not bear the harsh climatic and the high altitude conditions.
According to the Doctor’s report, most of deceased had come ill prepared for the pilgrimage in terms of proper clothing, most of them believed in a dip in ice cold water before Darshan, most believed in fasting for 3 days before having Darshan, which causes Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) which is especially fatal for diabetics who take their anti-diabetic medicines while keeping fast. The Doctors have also noted that Registered Medical Practitioners from outside the State have issued Medical Certificates to medically unfit pilgrims.
In their report, the Doctors opined that the majority of deaths which have occurred could be due to either high altitude pulmonary Oedema which occurs due to ascent to more than 10,000 feet over a very short period of time or hypothermia, both of which are fatal, once they occur. Of the deaths which have occurred amongst the younger Yatris in the Holy Cave area, the Doctors have pointed to cases of Yatris who, despite suffering from serious ailments and being unfit for high altitude travel, had been able to secure Medical Certificates from Registered Medical Practitioners outside the State.
The Doctors h
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