DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand director general of health Shailja Bhatt on Monday appealed to Char Dham pilgrims with comorbidities to postpone their journey. The advisory came a day after TOI reported that 16 deaths were recorded within the first six days of the yatra.
This came even as four more pilgrims died on Monday due to heart-related issues at the high-altitude shrines. The overall toll is now 20. The deaths have pushed the health department to urge people to refrain “if they are of compromised health”. “Those who are unable to defer their pilgrimage must bring a proper health certificate and follow Covid protocols,” said Bhatt, adding, “I’ve written to the tourism department and have requested them to come up with an advisory for all pilgrims.”
Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat directed the DG (health) to personally monitor the situation. He said that advanced life support ambulances would be stationed in high-altitude areas to tackle emergencies.