Jammu & Kashmir: The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra for the year 2024 commenced on June 29th and successfully concluded on August 19th, 2024. To ensure timely medical services for the pilgrims, 108 Emergency Medical Services deployed 20 fully equipped ambulances at various strategic base locations along the Chandanwari and Baltal routes. This deployment aimed to provide immediate medical assistance to the pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Additionally, 4×4 vehicles were stationed at Upper Rail Pathri to facilitate the transfer of critical patients from Upper Rail Pathri to the base camp hospital in Baltal.
Mushtaq Ahmed, the Project Head of 108 Emergency Medical Services, stated that a total of 500 patients were served by the 108 ambulance services during this year’s yatra. Among these, six critically ill patients were transferred on ventilator support from the base camp hospitals to the higher medical institution SKIMS Soura in Srinagar.
Since the inception of 108 emergency services in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in 2020, these services have played a crucial role in saving numerous lives. To date, a total of 3,26,455 patients have benefited from these services, and 1,146 deliveries have been successfully assisted by trained Emergency Medical Technicians, either at the scene or inside the ambulances.