Banihal, Jul 04: A registered pilgrim undertaking the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra was taken ill near the Navyug Tunnel in Banihal on Saturday morning after developing chest pain and breathing difficulty while en route to the Pahalgam base camp.
The pilgrim, identified as Pinku Devnath, son of Naresh Devnath, a resident of Boali, Aluipara Post Office in Nadia district of West Bengal, complained of chest pain near the Navyug Tunnel. He was immediately shifted to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Banihal at around 9:30 a.m. for medical treatment.
Doctors at the hospital conducted the necessary medical examination and diagnosed him with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) accompanied by shortness of breath. After receiving timely treatment, his condition was reported to be stable.
Doctors, however, strictly advised the pilgrim not to continue the onward journey, particularly through the high-altitude and hilly terrain, considering his medical condition.
The incident highlights the importance of timely medical intervention and the availability of healthcare facilities along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Health authorities have repeatedly advised pilgrims with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac ailments to undergo proper medical evaluation before undertaking the high-altitude pilgrimage.
