Dehradun, April 23, 2025 — With the Char Dham Yatra 2025 just around the corner, the Uttarakhand government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has taken robust steps to ensure that the sacred pilgrimage remains not just spiritually enriching but also medically secure and accessible. Prioritizing health and safety, the state health department has initiated comprehensive on-ground preparations, placing health infrastructure and personnel at the core of the Yatra planning.
Comprehensive Health Network Across All Dhams
Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar is spearheading efforts to strengthen medical services along the Yatra routes, aligning with directives from CM Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat. From base camps to the remotest points of the journey, every location is being equipped with modern healthcare facilities, skilled personnel, and multilingual assistance to ensure that pilgrims receive prompt and effective care.
Medical Units on High Alert
In a recent review meeting held at the Secretariat, Dr. Kumar instructed all Chief Medical Officers to fully prepare permanent and temporary health units with essential medicines, medical devices, and trained staff. Special focus is being placed on timely deployment of doctors and paramedical teams throughout the pilgrimage duration.
Multilingual Health Advisory and Awareness Campaigns
To bridge the language barrier for pilgrims from across the country, the health department is releasing health advisories in 13 languages. These will be accessible via QR codes placed at hotels, rest stops, parking areas, and other public locations. Large hoardings will also be installed in congestion-prone areas to promote health awareness.
Modern Healthcare at Kedarnath
The 17-bed hospital at Kedarnath is in its final construction phase. By the Yatra’s start, its two floors will be operational, featuring modern diagnostic tools including X-ray, ECG, blood testing, and multi-parameter monitoring, along with orthopedic specialist services.
Enhanced Medical Support Along Trek Routes
Twelve medical units along the Kedarnath trek route are being upgraded with doctors, pharmacists, and medical equipment. Additionally, the Fata Hospital will house an orthopedic specialist and X-ray facility. Screening teams are also being deployed at 12 helipads and parking zones along the path.
Chamoli District Fully Prepared
Chamoli district, home to Badrinath, has 20 medical units which will be operational by April 30. Key screening points like Gochar Barrier, Pandukeshwar Market, Karnaprayag Trauma Center, and Panduwakhal have been fully equipped. An additional screening center at Badrinath, run by the Swami Vivekananda Trust, will support these efforts.
Medical Readiness at Gangotri and Yamunotri
Medical units at Gangotri and Yamunotri have completed their preparations. From April 28, staff will be deployed on a rotational roster. Special postings of physicians have been made at Gangotri and Jankichatti, with both departmental and 108 ambulance services available along the routes. Life-saving drugs and critical equipment are in place, and awareness campaigns are being conducted to help pilgrims travel safely. Mandatory health screenings for pilgrims aged 50 and above will be enforced at designated checkpoints.
Rotational Deployment of Specialist Doctors
Sixty-nine doctors are already on duty across the Yatra route, with additional specialists — including orthopedic surgeons, general physicians, anesthetists, and government-appointed experts — being deployed on a 15-day rotation. The support infrastructure includes 121 nurses, 26 pharmacists, 309 oxygen beds, 6 ICU beds, 30 ambulances (13 departmental, 17 from 108 services), one blood bank, and two blood storage units.
Medical Relief Posts (MRPs) to Expand
Medical Relief Posts at Badrinath, Govindgarh, and Palna Bhandar will remain operational. Five new MRPs are being set up at Gochar, Nangsu, Mandal, Katora, and Hanumanchatti. Platform construction is underway and slated for completion soon.
Strict Food Safety Measures Enforced
To ensure safe food for pilgrims, the Food Safety and Drug Administration has launched a strict quality control campaign. Unregistered food vendors will face penalties, and a mobile food safety van will conduct on-the-spot checks and lab testing across the route.
Language-Friendly Staff at Screening Points
Major screening checkpoints — including Gochar, Pandukeshwar, Karnaprayag, and Panduwakhal — are now staffed with multilingual healthcare workers to provide effective communication and swift assistance. The additional screening center at Badrinath will further bolster these efforts.
Senior health officials, including Additional Health Secretary Anuradha Pal, Director General of Health Dr. Sunita Tamta, and other key directors and district-level CMOs participated in a high-level review meeting to ensure flawless execution.
With this comprehensive and people-centric approach, the Uttarakhand government aims to make Char Dham Yatra 2025 a safe, smooth, and spiritually fulfilling journey for every pilgrim.
