Medicare facililites at Sabarimala enhanced

Pathanamthitta, Jan 2: Medicare facilities have been enhanced by the district administration, taking into account the anticipated heavy influx of pilgrims during the ongoing 'Makaravilakku' festival season, at Sabarimala.

According to official sources 10 more ambulances were stationed at Pampa and they would function from January 5 to 15 apart from setting up 12 Oxygen parlours from Pampa to Sannidhanam along the trekking path, two medical units would operate at Karimala. Till the end of pilgrimage season, one oxygen parlour and a stretcher unit would function at Karimala. Oxygen parlours had been set up at Pampa Ganapathi Kovil, atop Neelimala as well as downhill, bottom of Appachimedu, Marakkoottam and Sannidhanam, to provide emergency medical aid to pilgrims, the sources added.

District Medical Officer N Damodaran had requested pilgrims with cardiac problems to take advance rest before climbing the Appachimedu-Neelimala top stretch.

So far 93,855 pilgrims availed allopathic medical help, he said adding of the total 23 pilgrim deaths, 17 were due to cardiac arrest.

UNI