Free altitude sickness treatment for pilgrims at Muktinath temple

KATHMANDU: A free emergency health service has been set up at the sacred Muktinath Temple — a common pilgrimage site for both Hindu and Buddhist devotees — to treat religious visitors suffering from altitude sickness.

In a joint initiative between the Province Hospital in Jomsom and the Baragung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality, the treatment center is actively serving pilgrims affected by the high-altitude environment of Muktinath, which is located at approximately 3,800 meters above sea level.

Many pilgrims, especially those traveling from low-altitude areas, experience Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) while visiting the temple.

To address this, a High-Altitude Treatment Center has been established within the temple premises.

According to Khagendra Bohora, Health Coordinator of the rural municipality, the center aims to provide timely emergency medical care to affected visitors.

The Province Hospital in Jomsom has deployed two contracted Health Assistants, Saroj Ghartimagar and Bikash Thakur, who are on-call 24/7.

The hospital also supplies necessary oxygen cylinders, while the rural municipality supports logistics and medicines.

The treatment center is equipped with three beds and three oxygen cylinders, with two beds stationed slightly away from the temple and one located within the temple premises to ensure rapid medical attention.

Health Assistant Ghartimagar reported that more than 2,000 individuals have benefited from the service since its establishment. In the month of Chaitra alone, 179 patients received treatment for altitude-related illness.

Despite the success, the center currently operates from a cramped initial treatment room, which has posed challenges in handling patients efficiently.

Health officials have stressed the urgent need for a well-equipped, dedicated infrastructure building near the temple to better manage high patient flow and provide comprehensive care.

Patients, mostly elderly between 45 to 94 years of age, are often referred to the Province Hospital in Jomsom after receiving preliminary treatment.

Health Assistant Thakur noted that altitude sickness is particularly common among the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, and physically weaker individuals who arrive without proper acclimatization.

Altitude sickness, commonly known in Nepal as “lek lagne,” occurs due to reduced oxygen levels at higher altitudes.

Common symptoms include nausea, dizziness, headaches, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and general lethargy.

The severity of symptoms depends on the visitor’s place of origin and how quickly they ascend to high altitudes.

Indian pilgrims, especially those traveling from lower altitudes, are reported to be the most affected.

Local sources also attribute sudden exposure to cold, such as taking ritual dips in the icy 108 water spouts and ponds of the temple on an empty stomach, as a key trigger for altitude sickness.

To raise awareness, the District Police Office has launched a campaign titled “One Minute with Drivers, Two Minutes with Passengers,” distributing leaflets and brochures with information on altitude sickness. In Ghasa — the border point between Myagdi and Mustang — hoarding boards have been set up, and local security personnel actively inform pilgrims about the risks and precautions.

Despite awareness efforts, Mustang still records over two dozen altitude-related deaths annually, with Indian tourists comprising the majority of fatalities, according to Police Inspector Bishal Adhikari of the District Police Office.

The authorities continue to work toward making high-altitude pilgrimages safer through health interventions, education, and community support.