Devotees drink water from a tanker on Wednesday.
Water scarcity this year has led to drying up of various sources and for the first time this year, alternate drinking water sources are being tapped from Alandi to Pandharpur to ensure that pilgrims do not face problems during the annual palkhi procession.
Dr H H Chavan, Deputy Director of Pune circle, said that over 40 tankers have been placed along the route. “At Alandi, we found that several water sources have dried up and hence, alternate water sources were tapped to fill the tankers with drinking water. Similarly, along Pune to Pandharpur route, medical teams have been deployed to ensure emergency aid.”
Medical officers and paramedical staff from Kolhapur, Sangli, Osmanabad, Latur, Ahmednagar and Satara have been brought in to oversee the entire health arrangements during the pilgrims’ route. “Private hospitals have also agreed to reserve 10 per cent beds and offer treatment free of cost. We have also set up 15 two-wheeler ambulances apart from the ones that the state medical emergency services have provided,” Dr Chavan added.
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Meanwhile, all hospitals along the ‘Wari’ route have been advised to be ready to receive patients during emergency. Considering the gathering of a large number of people at the destination of the ‘wari’, dedicated medical teams would be deployed in Pandharpur, an official release from the state medical emergency services said.
Started in 2014, the BVG-MEMS ambulances have saved lives of more than 8.7 lakh citizens in emergency situations. “We are geared up to provide emergency medical support on the Ashadi Wari route. Some 74 advanced ambulances would provide 24X7 medical assistance to the pilgrims on the entire route. Four ambulances would also travel along with the Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram palkhis on the entire route from Pune to Pandharpur,” Dr Jyotsna Mane of BVG- MEMS said.
