KATHMANDU / A team of specialist doctors has reached Gosainkunda to provide emergency medical treatment to the pilgrims visiting the holy site. A big religious fair takes place at Gosainkunda, a pilgrimage site located in the northern region of Rasuwa district, on the occasion of the Janai Purnima festival. The festival falls on August 31 this year.

The team comprising seven doctors has reached Gosainkunda under the aegis of the Bagmati Province Ministry of Tourism and Cooperatives, and the Himalayan Rescue Association, Kathmandu. The team will treat the pilgrims for high-altitude sickness and other health issues in case of need.

The Association's Chief Executive Officer Govinda Basyal informed RSS that seven physicians of the Mountain Medicine Society have reached Gosainkunda. The team is coordinated by Dr Nishanta Joshi who has the experience of working at the Association-run Pheriche Health Post in Solukhumbu.

The medical team will provide health services for 10 days at Gosaikunda. "The team will also provide medical care to the pilgrims on the way to Gosaikunda as well. It will carry out health examinations of pilgrims from Monday to Thursday at Gosaikunda," CEO Basyal said.

The Association has been providing health services to the pilgrims sending doctors' groups to the holy place since 1997, said the Association’s President Dambar Parajuli. He said the Association will provide health treatment and medicine to the pilgrims free of cost.

A mobile phone tower has also been recently installed at Gosainkunda which is at an altitude of 4,380 meters from sea level. The mobile tower was set up at the initiative of Mohan Acharya, an elected member of the House of Representatives from Rasuwa district.

Before this, it was difficult for the pilgrims to call home from Gosaikunda. Hundreds of pilgrims from within the country and abroad converge at this pilgrimage site to offer homage and perform religious rituals.