SSB gives oxygen, shelter to ailing Kolkata trekker in west Sikkim

A trekker from Kolkata who fell ill at high altitude in west Sikkim was given emergency first aid and oxygen by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at a border outpost near the India-Nepal border on Monday, November 9.

The tourist, identified by SSB sources as 42-year-old Jaydeep Mitra, developed breathing difficulties and high blood pressure near Yambung, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

What happened on the trek

According to the SSB, Mitra was part of a group of 10 tourists travelling with three porters and a guide. The group was trekking from Naya Patal towards Lampokhri by way of Yambung when he began to feel unwell.

Personnel of the SSB's 72nd battalion, from its Yuksom unit posted at the Yambung border outpost (BOP), reached him and gave first aid and oxygen. "The tourist's condition is currently stable, and he remains under observation," an SSB official said.

The officer in charge of the outpost reported the tourist's condition by phone to Deputy Commandant (Operations) Meghnath Raut. With approval from senior officers, Mitra was allowed to spend the night at the outpost on humanitarian grounds, since there was no accommodation nearby.

A demanding high-altitude route

Naya Patal and Yambung lie on the Yambung-Singalila trekking route in western Sikkim, about 120 km from Gangtok. The route runs through scenic forest and valley stretches popular with trekkers, and some points are above 12,000 feet.

At such heights, the lower oxygen level can cause acute mountain sickness, with symptoms such as headache, breathlessness, dizziness and nausea. In serious cases it can progress to life-threatening fluid build-up in the lungs or brain, which is why quick oxygen support and descent are critical.

Health checks for trekkers

The episode comes as authorities in the region tighten safety rules for high-altitude tourism. Across the border in West Bengal's Darjeeling hills, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration recently made a health check-up mandatory for tourists and trekkers heading to Sandakphu, the state's highest point, after several visitors died of altitude sickness.

Trekkers in Sikkim are generally advised to acclimatise in stages, travel with registered guides, carry basic medication and report any symptoms early to guides or the nearest security post.