India, June 12 -- The Char Dham Yatra is one of the most revered spiritual journeys in India that millions of pilgrims undertake every year. The pilgrimage to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath is beyond an act of faith. However, it is a physically demanding journey through some of the most challenging routes in our country. The number of pilgrims who take up the Char Dham Yatra is rising each season. It has led to the discussions around Char Dham planning that focuses on roads, accommodation, crowd management and weather preparedness. However, emergency health care at high altitude is one critical element that deserves far greater attention.

The Char Dham route goes through mountainous regions. The elevations in such regions f...