Indian tourist dies of altitude sickness while visiting Muktinath

Published On: March 4, 2024 04:29 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

Five more individuals lost their lives to altitude sickness in current FY

POKHARA, March 4: An Indian pilgrim visiting the Muktinath temple in Mustang has died of altitude sickness. Bhupendra Bhai Patel, 57, of Gujarat, India, succumbed to altitude sickness on Monday morning, as confirmed by the police.

Patel, who had gone to visit the Muktinath Temple in Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality-1, fell ill due to altitude sickness at around 9:30 AM on Monday morning.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bhojraj Pandey, police chief of Mustang, informed Republica that he was undergoing treatment after being brought to a hospital at the District Headquarters, Jomsom.

Pandey said that Patel, who had gone in a group of 40 people, died at 10 AM in the Jomsom Hospital, where he was brought for treatment.

He was brought to the headquarters Jomsom for treatment after suffering from altitude sickness. However, he died in the hospital, said DSP Pandey. According to him, that group of Indian pilgrims stayed at Marpha in Mustang the previous evening. He said that Patel suddenly fell ill when he reached the temple on Monday morning.

He suddenly collapsed on the temple premises. Despite receiving initial first aid, he couldn't be revived upon being brought to the district hospital.

In the current fiscal year 2023/24, five more tourists have lost their lives to altitude sickness in the Muktinath area of Mustang. Among them, three were Indians, one Ukrainian and one Nepali tourist.

Tourists ascending to high altitudes too quickly often experience breathlessness. Pandey said that it is advisable to ascend gradually to minimize the risk of altitude sickness. "There is a risk of suffering from altitude sickness when the tourists who travel by car reach the high point in a short time," he said.

According to him, a health desk is available on the Muktinath temple premises. There is also the Jharkot Health Post three kilometers down, Kagbeni Health Post at a distance of nine kilometers and District Hospital at a distance of 19 kilometers. If necessary, oxygen can be administered to the patients at the health desk on the temple premises, and they can also receive treatment on a bed there.