Pathanamthitta: Medical facilities arranged by the state Health Department have helped save 81 pilgrims who suffered heart attacks during the ongoing Sabarimala pilgrimage season, officials said on Saturday.

According to a state government press release, round-the-clock modern health centres, along with specialist doctors and paramedical staff, enabled timely medical intervention and saved several lives during the pilgrimage.

The statement said that of the 103 reported cases of heart attack, 81 patients were successfully treated.

In addition, six lives were saved out of 25 reported cases of cardiac arrest through prompt medical attention. All 44 reported cases of seizures were treated successfully, the statement added.

“Giving special emphasis to life-saving measures, the Health Department has strengthened its preparedness to handle cardiac emergencies, considering the physical strain involved in the hill trek, the release said. Cardiology units have been set up, and essential life-saving drugs such as streptokinase and tenecteplase have been made available to ensure specialised treatment for pilgrims at risk of cardiac complications,” the press release said.

So far, a total of 95,385 outpatients have received treatment at Sabarimala and nearby hospitals.

In addition to cardiac cases, 337 pilgrims were referred to other hospitals for advanced care, officials said.

A total of 22 emergency medical centres have been set up, including 17 centres along the trekking route from Pampa to Sannidhanam.

Each centre is equipped with trained medical officers, staff nurses, ECG machines, oxygen cylinders, emergency medicines and ambulance services, they said.

The hospital at Sannidhanam is equipped with a modern cardiology unit, ventilators, an operation theatre, an ICU, X-ray and laboratory facilities, and specialist doctors.

Officials said the health department was committed to providing all necessary support to ensure that pilgrims can undertake the trek safely and complete the darshan without health-related difficulties.

PTI