Adhikari’s oxygen saturation had fallen to 32% at Ahal, around 2km from Sandakphu
Darjeeling : A 27-year-old tourist from Cooch Behar died on Wednesday after suffering breathing difficulties and his oxygen saturation fell to 32% at Ahal, around 2km from Sandakphu. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata Stay updated with the latest Kolkata news.
His friends said he developed a cough after returning from a sunrise visit and his condition deteriorated within minutes. The district administration said a health facility is planned at Sandakphu under Vibrant Villages Programme-II, with land already identified. SLROA president Chandan Pradhan said the association had repeatedly sought a medical facility in the region. Authorities at Sandakphu said their oxygen cylinder stock had been exhausted last tourist season and fresh supplies were yet to arrive.
Priotosh Adhikari, a resident of Tufanganj, was trekking with four friends and had reached the Sandakphu region via Sikkim. The death has highlighted the lack of immediate medical facilities in the Sandakphu-Ahal belt. Currently, patients have to be taken to Sukhiapokhri block primary health centre, around 37km away, a journey that can take nearly four hours. Download the TOI App.
The group gave him steam and took him to a hotel on the Nepal side, where he received oxygen for around 15 minutes, according to friend Indranil Das.
They later sought help from the SSB but were told there were no medical personnel.
Adhikari died before the group reached Kalpokhri.