Uttarakhand health department readies 17-bed hospital at Kedarnath for Char Dham Yatra.

Key facts

• Uttarakhand health department will operationalise a 17-bed hospital at Kedarnath before the Char Dham Yatra starting on 22 April.
• Director general of health and family welfare Dr Sunita Tamta stated that nearly 90% of the facility is ready and equipment has been installed.
• About 400 medical graduates will be deployed along the yatra route across Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts covering Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines.
• Around 229 specialist doctors from the health department, government medical colleges and private institutes will serve on a rotational, fortnightly basis during the yatra period.
• Last year approximately 159 pilgrims died from health-related issues, mainly cardiac arrest and high-altitude conditions, with most casualties reported at Kedarnath followed by Yamunotri.
• Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat announced deployment of 177 ambulances including road, air and water units, 25 medical relief posts and 33 health screening points along the route.