Srinagar, July 19, 2012( Mail Today): As the death toll of Amarnath pilgrims mounted to 92 on Thursday, the 25th day of Amarnath yatra, the state health ministry voiced concern that the pilgrims don’t even take basic health precautions and put their lives to risk. Dr. Anita Murthy, who volunteered to serve Amarnath yatris at the Baltal base camp, said most of the medical certificates given to the pilgrims certifying that they were fit for the yatra were obtained through fraudulent means. “Their medical certificates are not genuine. Action needs to be taken against doctors who issue such certificates,” she said.
According to her, most of the yatris have respiratory, cardiac and orthopaedic problems. “Many yatris do not come with adequate clothing and commence climbing without any acclimatization, attempting to complete the yatra in the shortest possible time.