Medical fitness certificate mandatory for tourists visiting Sandakhpu starting Jan 1

DARJEELING, : Starting January 1, tourists visiting the high altitude-Sandakhpu area will be required to present a mandatory medical fitness certificate to enter the region. This move follows the death of 28-year-old Ankita Ghosh, a tourist from Kolkata, on December 3. This was the third such death this year of tourists visiting Sandakhpu which stands at 11,929 feet and is about 61 kilometres from Darjeeling.

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Health-in-charge Rajesh Chauhan informed that both the Darjeeling district administration and the GTA have issued an advisory requiring all tourists visiting the Sandakhpu-Phalut area to submit a medical fitness certificate.

“From January 1, tourists will be required to present a medical report, which will be checked at a designated camp by the Tourism department before they are allowed to proceed,” Chauhan said.

Ankita Ghosh died while being transported from Tumling, located 19 km below Sandakhpu, to the Darjeeling District Hospital. She was first taken to Manenbhanjyang primary health centre.

Earlier this year on May 26, Tanmoy Kundu, a tourist from North Dinajpur, died at Sandakhpu after complaining of respiratory problems. On November 19, Asish Bhattacharya, a tourist from Bhawanipur, passed away under similar circumstances.

The area, which falls under the Singalila National Park, lacks proper medical facilities, and locals and tourists alike have been demanding a primary health centre at Tumling, but it has not yet been established.

Kaushik Bala, a tourist from Kolkata who visited Sandakhpu with a group of 12 friends, said, “We are aware of the recent death of a tourist here. To avoid such incidents, there should be a primary health centre in this area to provide emergency care. Tourists from the plains are especially prone to breathing problems at this high altitude.”

In response to the recurring fatalities, locals have begun enforcing their own set of rules to help prevent such incidents.

Arjun Gurung, a homestay owner at Tumling, said, “We have implemented strict rules for our guests. We serve dinner by 8:30 pm and close the kitchen by 9 pm. Guests are asked to stay indoors after that as temperatures can drop below freezing. We also prohibit alcohol and discourage guests from bathing in such cold weather. We make sure guests are aware of these rules before booking.”

Mila Gurung, another homestay owner at Tumling, added that many tourists fall ill due to a lack of preparation for the harsh conditions. “Many visitors come with alcohol and party outside in the cold without proper clothing, which is dangerous. We also strongly believe that a primary health centre at Tumling is essential.”

In an effort to improve medical care in the region, Chauhan said, “We are making it mandatory for all accommodations in the area to keep oxygen cylinders. The health department will provide training on using them and basic emergency medical care by the end of this month.”

Chauhan also informed that the GTA has submitted a proposal to the government to establish a primary health centre in the region, as much of the land in the area is either owned by the Forest department or the DI Fund.