Tourists and trekkers planning to visit Sandakphu, the highest point in Bengal at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, will soon be required to meet certain health requirements, according to the Darjeeling district administration in north Bengal.
The decision follows the deaths of two people and an Israeli tourist in the past three years while visiting this popular destination, known as a trekkers’ wonderland, which saw its first snowfall of the season this week.
Richard Lepcha, the sub-divisional officer of Darjeeling (sadar), said, "We will soon issue a guideline requiring Sandakphu-bound tourists to present a recent medical certificate from a doctor. The certificate will need to include details on heart health, blood pressure, and diabetes."
However, Lepcha added that the exact date when the medical certificate will be mandatory is still being decided.
Earlier this year, a 70-year-old man from Kolkata experienced breathing problems while visiting Sandakphu in February. He was taken to a health center 17 km away but was declared dead.
The following month, another man in his 40s from north Dinajpur also died after suffering a similar issue. In 2022, an Israeli tourist died from a heart attack while trekking from Manebhanjan to Sandakphu, an 11 km route.
Lepcha explained, "Tourists need to acclimatize to the high altitude. Severe health issues can be dangerous at this elevation."
Regarding the medical certificate’s validity, Lepcha said it should be no older than two months. If tourists cannot provide the required certificate, they may be asked to visit a nearby state-run healthcare facility to obtain one.
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