KATHMANDU: The Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal (HRA) has begun preparations for its annual temporary health camp at Gosainkunda to provide medical care and raise awareness about altitude sickness among pilgrims visiting the high-altitude religious site during the Janai Purnima festival.

The association sent a seven-member team of doctors and medical assistants from Kathmandu to Gosainkunda on Thursday. The camp will operate during the festival period at 4,380 metres above sea level, where thousands of pilgrims are expected to gather.

HRA said many pilgrims are unfamiliar with the risks of altitude sickness and may continue ascending despite developing symptoms, sometimes due to religious beliefs that reaching the lake is essential. Headache, loss of appetite, breathlessness, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations and blurred or double vision can indicate altitude-related illness, which can become life-threatening if ignored.

The association also warned of a risky tendency among some young pilgrims to compete over who can reach the destination fastest. It urged visitors to ascend gradually, recognise symptoms of altitude sickness and avoid forcing themselves higher when they become unwell.

HRA has been operating the temporary health camp at Gosainkunda annually since 1997. During last year's Janai Purnima pilgrimage, its medical team treated around 500 people, while about 20 seriously ill patients required assistance to be carried down to lower elevations after receiving treatment and medication.

Alongside medical services, the association will distribute informational brochures on Gosainkunda and altitude sickness to help pilgrims understand the risks and take preventive measures.

HRA said pilgrims seeking information about high-altitude travel, altitude sickness or conditions at Gosainkunda can visit its central office at Dhobichaur, Lazimpat, in Kathmandu for individual or group briefings.

The association has been providing medical services and conducting altitude-sickness awareness programmes through its health posts in Nepal's mountain regions since its establishment. It also works as a specialist organisation on altitude-related illnesses.

Gosainkunda, located in Rasuwa at 4,380 metres, is both a popular natural destination and an important Hindu pilgrimage site. Thousands of devotees traditionally travel to the lake during Janai Purnima, making medical preparedness and awareness particularly important at the high-altitude site.