AMRITSAR SAHIB—English daily The Times of India has reported that two Sikh pilgrims died due to cardiac arrest at around 2 pm in Nankana Sahib on Monday.
The president of Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kirtan Darbar Society, Harpal Singh Bhullar told media that the pilgrims who died are Atma Singh, a resident of Muktsar and Shingara Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran.
The incident has provoked Sikh organisations to ensure proper health checkups of pilgrims before they embark on religious sojourns.
After the incident, the appointed Jathedar of Shri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Gurbachan Singh, as per the TOI report, has directed Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to conduct medical check ups of pilgrims before accepting their passports to apply for visas. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has also announced free health check ups for Sikh pilgrims before sending them on any pilgrimages to Pakistan on various religious occasions.
Smaller Sikh groups have also expressed concern and stressed the need to ensure sound health of devotees before any pilgrimage.
Giani Gurbachan Singh recalled that earlier, there was a mandatory requirement for devotees to submit a health certificate to apply for a visa, but that was withdrawn over time.
DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK said that for the next pilgrimage to Pakistan, they would conduct free medical check ups of all members of a Sikh Jatha and release their health reports.
TOI quoted GK’s statement as, “It will be up to the government to allow or bar the medically unfit devotees from taking up pilgrimage.”
Bhullar also said that he would ensure that all devotees carry medical certificates to avoid such health related issues during pilgrimage. “If a devotee is not medically fit to undertake the yatra, he or she can do so after proper medical consultation and recovery from ailments,” he observed.
