Kedarnath Yatra: Doctors go 'missing', pilgrims in trouble

Dehradun, July 23: Uttarakhand government has made elaborate arrangements for medical facilities for pilgrims, visiting Kedarnath shrine. But pilgrims are hardly receiving any medical aid.

Total nine doctors were appointed. Initially, all nine doctors attended the camps when Kedarnath Yatra began in April 2015. However, after two months, only three of them remained to serve the pilgrims.

People, who are visiting the shrine, have been facing a lot of problems due to lack of healthcare facilities. At every crucial juncture, the pilgrims are left at the mercy of pharmacists.

Unfortunately, the health care department is fully dependent on local pharmacists for medical care and treatment of pilgrims.

According to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), there are adequate medical facilities available. However, sources informed that no doctors are available at Lincholi, Bhimbali, Kedarnath base camp, Rudra Point which are the important junctions of Kedarnath Yatra.

Speaking about the crisis in the medical camps, the chief medical officer R P Bandoli was quoted as saying, "Earlier, nine doctors were deployed for the Kedarnath yatra, but out of that only three are present. So, this is the obvious reason that the health care system will be affected."

After the destructive flash flood in Uttarakhand in 2013, the state-owned dispensary was severely damaged. Hence, health department decided to set up a make-shift medical camps for pilgrims.

OneIndia News