1,500 healthcare workers will be deployed for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra

Jammu Tawi, Apr 24: More than 1,500 healthcare personnel, including specialist doctors, will be deployed for the upcoming pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the southern Kashmir Himalayas, officials said on Wednesday.

Two 100-bed hospitals, one each at Chandanwari-Pahalgam and Baltal, along with more than 100 medical centers would be set up from Lakhanpur to the cave shrine for the benefit of pilgrims, the officials said.

Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah chaired a meeting here to review the healthcare arrangements being put in place for the annual 52-day yatra, which starts on June 29.

The yatra takes place from the two tracks – the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and a 14 km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

A total of 55 medical centers would be set up, including six base hospitals of 100 beds each in Baltal and Chandanwari, 11 emergency medical centres, 12 emergency centres, 26 oxygen booths and 15 en route facilities. Health Services, Kashmir, officials said.

Besides, 17 facilities on the route will be kept on standby to tackle any emergency, officials said, adding 1,415 healthcare personnel, including 173 specialists, 244 medical officers, and 998 paramedics, would be deployed for the yatra.

Of these, 754 will be from Jammu and Kashmir and 661 will be requested from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the officials said.