Uttarakhand government has issued a health advisory for pilgrims, advising them to practice walking, breathing exercises, and heart-related exercises well before they begin their journey. The Char Dham Yatra involves a pilgrimage to four sacred sites: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Since all these pilgrimage sites are situated in the high Himalayan region, at altitudes exceeding 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) above sea level, pilgrims often face challenges such as extreme cold, low humidity, intense ultraviolet radiation, reduced air pressure, and low oxygen levels.
246 pilgrims died due to health reasons during the yatra last year, and 242 deaths were reported in 2023. The advisory, issued in 12 languages, urges yatris to carry an adequate quantity of essential medicines and undergo a health check-up before embarking on their journey. The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand will commence on April 30 with the opening of the doors of the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples. Kedarnath will open for devotees on May 2, followed by Badrinath on May 4.
Health Secretary R Rajesh Kumar stated that screening points have been set up to assess pilgrims on 28 parameters, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and oxygen levels during the yatra. The advisory encourages people to utilise these screening centres and medical relief posts along the yatra route to monitor their health as needed.
The offline registration points will also offer health screening facilities. All screening points are linked to the registration centres, allowing passengers to undergo a complete health check-up before commencing their journey, the health secretary added.
