Kolkata: A 47-year-old woman from Kolkata tragically passed away while on holiday in North Sikkim on Friday, according to officials. She had been visiting the Himalayan state with her family. After arriving in Lachung, the woman experienced shortness of breath and vomited several times. Despite feeling unwell, she went ahead with a sightseeing trip to Zero Point, which is located at an altitude of 15,300 feet, on Thursday.
Authorities are investigating the incident, but it is likely that the high altitude and thin air may have contributed to her sudden deterioration in health. Around 2 am, she developed acute symptoms of altitude sickness and was rushed to the Lachung Army Field Hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead, officials said, reported news agency PTI.
It is suspected that high altitude sickness could be the cause of the death since Lachung is also at an elevation of 9,600 ft, they said. A case of unnatural death was registered, and an investigation started, they added.
Similar Death in Manali
In a similar incident last year, a tourist from Punjab died due to high altitude sickness on the Manali-Leh highway, according to The Times of India.
According to Lahaul-Spiti police, 54-year-old Varinderjit Pandher, a resident of Patiala, was travelling with his family from Leh to Manali when he suddenly experienced respiratory distress and other symptoms consistent with high-altitude sickness in Darcha.
A team of medical professionals provided him with first aid and referred him to the government hospital in Keylong for further treatment. Unfortunately, Pandher passed away while being transported from Darcha to Keylong, despite medical assistance.
Can High Altitude Cause Death?
Death at high altitude is possible due to low oxygen levels, which can lead to severe conditions like High-Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE) and High-Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE). Rapid ascent without proper acclimatisation increases the risk, and without urgent medical attention, these conditions can be fatal.
