Ahmedabad: High heat and humidity during the rath yatra on Thursday took a toll on devotees, with EMRI 108 ambulance services reporting a high number of heat-related emergencies along the procession route.The maximum temperature hovered around 37 degrees celsius, while relative humidity remained close to 70% during the morning hours, making conditions uncomfortable for hundreds who had gathered to witness the annual procession.Among the cases handled by EMRI 108 was that of a 19-year-old youth who fainted near Sarangpur Darwaja while standing in the crowd.“The youth was shifted to Civil Hospital. His vitals showed fluctuations in blood pressure. He was given on-the-spot treatment. But several other cases involved persons above 40 years,” a senior official said.To ensure uninterrupted emergency response during the procession, the Ahmedabad city police made special arrangements for ambulance movement along the congested route.In at least two instances, police personnel cleared lanes near the main procession route and managed the crowd to create a passage for ambulances transporting patients. The coordinated effort helped emergency vehicles navigate through dense gatherings without significant delay.
