The upcoming Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, set to commence in May 2024, has spurred intense preparations to guarantee a seamless pilgrimage experience for devotees. Given health concerns as a top priority, the Health Department is actively implementing measures to address these issues. Dr. R Rajesh Kumar, the Health Secretary of Uttarakhand, declared on Sunday, 3rd March 2024, that new hospitals will be established at Badrinath and Kedarnath before the initiation of the Char Dham Yatra. These hospitals aim to offer immediate medical assistance to pilgrims embarking on this sacred journey.
Furthermore, he emphasized that medical teams, specially trained for high-altitude work, will be stationed along the entire route of the Char Dham Yatra to safeguard the well-being of pilgrims. Dr. Kumar urged pilgrims to undergo health check-ups before embarking on the sacred journey. The cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has approved to procuring of equipment for these hospitals. Dr. Kumar highlighted the swift progress in preparations for the Char Dham Yatra, with coordinated efforts from all departments. Additionally, he mentioned that an exclusive medical team of 150 individuals will be deployed for the Char Dham Yatra, with doctors assigned in 15-day rotations to ensure continuous healthcare support.
The Health Secretary of the state extended a warm welcome to travellers visiting Devbhoomi, emphasizing the importance of undergoing health checks before embarking on their journey. He advised individuals with heart conditions, high blood pressure, and pregnant women to travel only after ensuring their health is in order. The department will meticulously maintain health records for all passengers, and in case a pilgrim encounters any inconvenience along the way, they are encouraged to seek medical attention and get themselves checked.
All preparations are aligning with the directives from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat. As outlined by the Health Secretary, doctors stationed in Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Uttarkashi will not be assigned to Char Dham duties this time. Instead, medical personnel from Kumaon and other districts will be deployed. Dr. Kumar highlighted that pilgrims on the Char Dham route will undergo comprehensive health assessments at various checkpoints, with a special emphasis on screening at the commencement of their journey. Thorough health examinations will be mandatory before pilgrims are permitted to proceed further.
In consideration of the challenges faced by pilgrims due to language differences, Dr. Kumar emphasized that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with health guidelines will be disseminated in 11 languages, encompassing Hindi and English, to facilitate clear communication for all pilgrims. The Health Secretary mentioned that SOPs will also be made available in additional languages, including Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Marathi, and Oriya. This initiative ensures that devotees can access and comprehend the health SOP in their respective local languages. To enhance accessibility, the SOPs will be distributed to District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers in all districts, facilitating the upload of health SOPs in various languages on the Chardham Website and other relevant platforms.