Serving pilgrims at Shri Manimahesh Yatra 2024

Each year, the Shri Manimahesh Yatra attracts thousands of pilgrims. During this yatra, pilgrims undertake the journey to the Manimahesh Lake. This lake is located at the foot of the sacred Manimahesh Kailash in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This mountain is believed to be one of the Panch Kailash (five divine abodes of Lord Shiva).

Among the several routes, pilgrims typically follow the Chamba route, traveling through Bharmour town to reach Hadsar village. From Hadsar, they trek 13 kilometers to reach the holy Manimahesh Lake. One kilometer before reaching this lake is a small lake, Gauri Kund. Gauri Kund is situated at an altitude of 13,300 feet and is believed to be the bathing place of Goddess Parvati. This area is also a major resting place, where pilgrims stop and stay overnight.

In 2023, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) provided medical and ambulance services to pilgrims during the Shri Manimahesh Yatra. Satisfied with the services provided, the local administration approached VMRK again to continue these services this year. The site allocated for the medical camp was at Gauri Kund. Additionally, the administration requested the donation of high-altitude trekking shoes for the rescue personnel deployed along the yatra route.

Preparing to serve pilgrims

This year, the yatra was scheduled from August 26 to September 11, 2024. However, anticipating that some pilgrims might undertake the yatra ahead of schedule, the administration asked VMRK to start the services a few days earlier. Grateful for the opportunity, VMRK promptly initiated preparations at the VMRK center in Nawan Nagar.

A team of volunteers packed medical supplies and equipment into 76 boxes. Two fully equipped ambulances were deep-cleaned after returning from serving the pilgrims during the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2024 and 2024 Shravan Ashtami Fair at Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple. Life-saving equipment was serviced by the respective agency to ensure they were in good working order. A 14-x-21-foot waterproof tent, blankets, and thin foam mattresses were also arranged.

The Manimahesh Yatra involves traversing unpaved, rocky tracks on steep mountainous terrain. During this pilgrimage, emergency rescue teams are deployed by the local administration to ensure pilgrim safety. Trekking shoes with proper grip are essential to help these teams navigate the challenging terrain, often while carrying patients on stretchers. VMRK responded to the administration’s request by purchasing 50 pairs of water-resistant trekking shoes with enhanced grip, flexible soles, and ankle support.

On August 20, all the items were loaded onto a truck. Since Gauri Kund is a remote site with limited power, a diesel generator was also loaded to ensure sufficient power for operating medical equipment. That same night, the truck, two ambulances, and a team of medical professionals and volunteers, departed from the Nawan Nagar center.

Trekking shoes donation and camp setup

The next afternoon, the team arrived in Bharmour and promptly donated the trekking shoes to the local administration for the emergency rescue team.

The following day, the boxes of medical supplies and equipment were transported to the Bharmour helipad for airlifting to Gauri Kund. An ambulance with a driver stayed at Bharmour, while the second ambulance, the truck, and the team left for Hadsar. At Hadsar, the team spent the rest of the day arranging for porters to transport the remaining items to the assigned location.

On August 23, the team, along with 41 porters and 2 mules, trekked 12 kilometers to reach Gauri Kund. The local administration had already set up a 12-x-10-foot tent for the team’s accommodation. The following morning, VMRK volunteers began installing the waterproof tent for the medical camp.

Round-the-clock medical services

 The camp began operating on the afternoon of August 24. Throughout the yatra, a medical team of 2 doctors, 2 pharmacists, and 11 volunteers served the pilgrims. The team worked in shifts to provide 24-hour service, offering free medical consultation, medicines, and first aid.

The weather during the yatra was rainy with cold wind and many pilgrims came to the camp with symptoms such as cold, cough, and fever. In addition to prescribing medications, the doctors also administered nebulization to enable patients to more easily inhale the misted medication. Additionally, due to the thin air at high altitude, numerous pilgrims visited the camp with breathlessness, headaches, and dizziness. They received oxygen through oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders available at the camp and their oxygen saturation levels were monitored by a multipara monitor. The generator at the camp ensured an uninterrupted power supply for all the equipment at the camp.

The ambulance stationed at Bharmour provided services to patients, who were airlifted from Gauri Kund. As the requirement for ambulance services at Bharmour increased, the Hadsar ambulance was also relocated there. Both ambulances transported patients to the nearest hospital at the directions of the local administration.