MPs Fall Ill During Ladakh Tour

• Several MPs fell ill during Parliamentary Standing Committee visit to Ladakh
• Low oxygen levels at altitudes above 12,000 feet caused breathing difficulties
• One MP hospitalised in Delhi after suffering bleeding and vomiting
• Members say tour lacked adequate acclimatisation time before high-altitude travel

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 9th June: Several Members of Parliament suffered high-altitude sickness during an official visit to Ladakh last month, with many requiring continuous oxygen support and one MP later being admitted to a Delhi hospital after developing serious health complications.

The incident occurred during a three-day tour of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, led by DMK Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva. The 17-member delegation visited Leh-Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir beginning May 18.

According to sources, the health of several MPs deteriorated due to low oxygen levels at high altitudes, particularly among members aged between 60 and 70 years. Many experienced breathlessness, elevated heart rates and other symptoms associated with acute mountain sickness.

The committee reached Leh, situated at an altitude of approximately 12,500 feet, on May 19 and travelled to Pangong Lake, located at around 14,588 feet, the following day.

Sources said the rapid ascent left many members struggling to acclimatise. Only four or five MPs reportedly did not require oxygen support, while the majority developed health complications during the journey.

Afzal Ansari, MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Lalganj constituency, said his oxygen saturation level dropped to 37, far below the normal range of 91 to 100.

“The tour planners made a mistake. Visitors reaching Leh are generally advised to rest for 48 to 72 hours to acclimatise. We did not get that time and moved towards Pangong Lake the very next day,” Ansari said.

He added that he remained on oxygen support almost continuously throughout the visit.

“Except while eating or attending meetings, I was wearing an oxygen mask. I had to carry an oxygen cylinder from the vehicle to the hotel. The extreme weather conditions and lack of vegetation make life very difficult there,” he said.

Another Uttar Pradesh MP, Daroga Prasad Saroj, reportedly developed severe breathing difficulties while travelling to Pangong Lake. He suffered bleeding from his mouth and nose and was immediately placed on oxygen support.

After completing the Ladakh and Kashmir tour, Saroj was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for treatment.

Several MPs who experienced health problems described the visit as an eye-opener regarding the challenging conditions faced by soldiers stationed in the region.

“One should visit these high-altitude areas to understand the extreme conditions in which our armed forces protect the country’s borders,” a member of the delegation said.

Dr Yangdol, Medical Superintendent of the Government Hospital in Leh, said visitors from lower-altitude regions frequently face complications after arriving in Ladakh.

“That is why we advise tourists and visitors to rest for at least a day to acclimatise before undertaking further travel,” she said.

The incident has raised questions over planning and health precautions during official visits to high-altitude regions, particularly for elderly participants and those with underlying medical conditions.