By Priyanka Deshpande
CNBC-TV18.com
Published July 1, 2024
The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Saturday June 29, as the first batch of pilgrims left the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan to start their journey to the 13,000 feet high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
But this journey of faith is one of the toughest pilgrimages in India. The Amarnath trek exposes pilgrims to extreme cold, low humidity, increased UV radiation and reduced air pressure.
Mandatory health checkups are required before the yatra, and proper altitude acclimatization is essential for trekking. Here’s a look at what one may face at higher altitudes:
One may feel breathlessness due to a drop in oxygen levels.
Mountain sickness may cause headache, fatigue, stomach illness, dizziness, and sleep disturbance.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) may affect brain and lungs.
Hypoxemia i.e. low blood oxygen may cause decision impairment and hallucinations in extreme cases.
Extreme Hypoxemia can prove fatal if ignored.