66 medical camps being set up along Amarnath yatra routes

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 9

Governor NN Vohra, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, (SASB) has reiterated the need for setting up medical camps at every vulnerable stretch of the yatra routes so as to provide medicare to the pilgrims.

A total of 66 medical camps are being set up by the Health Department, Army, paramilitary forces, J&K Police and NGOs at identified locations along the yatra routes. The yatra will commence via the traditional Pahalgam route and the shortest Baltal route on June 29.

At a review meeting here today, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SASB Umang Narula briefed the Governor about the arrangements made for the medicare of pilgrims. He said the Director, Health Services, Kashmir, had been asked to ensure that necessary advanced medical facilities were provided not only at the base hospitals but also at other medical centres along the yatra routes.

The Director, Health Services, Kashmir, said the Health Department would be setting up five base hospitals at Baltal, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panjtarni and the holy cave, nine medical aid centres at Domel, Brari Marg, Sangam Top, Frislan, Pissu Top, Zojibal, Nagakoti, MG Top, Poshpatri and Railpatri, 14 emergency aid centres between Chandanwari and Pissu Top, Pissu Top and Zojibal, Wavbal and Sheshnag towards Sheshnag, Wavbal Top, Kelnar, Dardkote, between Sangam Top and the holy cave, near lower holy cave, Railpatri, between Railpatri and Brari Marg, langar site before Brari Marg, Y-Junction, Kali Mata Track and Sangam Down. The department will also provide medical facilities at the Neelgrath helipad for the convenience of the pilgrims.

The Department of Indian System of Medicines will be establishing eight medical camps at Baltal, Brari Marg, Nunwan, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panjtarni and the lower holy cave and two mobile camps which will move along with ‘Charri Mubarak’.

Moreover, six medical camps will be established by the Army, 10 by the BSF, seven by the CRPF, two by the SSB and one each by the ITBP and the J&K Police. Further, for supplementing the health facilities, the Director, Health Services, Kashmir, has also recommended establishment of three medical camps by various NGOs en route the yatra track.

The Director said that 107 doctors, including specialists from super-speciality hospitals and prestigious medical institutions, and 146 paramedical staff had been nominated by the Ministry of Health and the governments of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra for yatra duty.

Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, said the medical camps being set up by the Health Department were located at an average distance of 2 km on the basis of the conditions on the ground and the availability of water, shelter sheds, tents and sanitation facilities. He further said the base camp hospitals shall be equipped with hyperbaric oxygen chambers, portable oxygen concentrators, automated CPR machines, defibrillators and cardiac monitors, portable X-ray and ultrasound machines (at Baltal and Chandanwari) and ECG machines.

107 doctors on duty

• A total of 66 medical camps are being set up by the Health Department, Army, paramilitary forces, J&K Police and NGOs at identified locations along the Amarnath yatra routes
• The Ministry of Health and the governments of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra have nominated 107 doctor and 146 paramedics for yatra duty