Kedar Valley Hospital

The hospital built by IMA is likely the Kedar Valley Hospital in Guptakashi, Uttarakhand, India, for which funds were raised through a charity cricket match involving former West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara in 2013.

Event Overview: On October 3, 2013, Brian Lara participated in a charity cricket match organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) at the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The match aimed to raise funds for constructing a hospital in the Kedar Valley (Kedar Ghati) to support victims of the devastating 2013 Uttarakhand floods, which caused significant loss of life and infrastructure damage in the region, including areas like Guptakashi and Kedarnath.
Purpose: The proceeds from the charity match were intended to fund the construction of a hospital in the Kedar Valley to provide medical care for flood victims and improve healthcare infrastructure in the disaster-affected area. Guptakashi, being a key town in the Kedar Valley, was likely a central location for this initiative.
Brian Lara’s Involvement:
Lara, a renowned cricketer known for his record-breaking 501 not out in first-class cricket and 400 not out in Test cricket, headlined the event, drawing attention to the cause.
Before the match, Lara visited The Doon School in Dehradun, where he delivered an insightful speech about his life and the importance of planning for the future, resonating with the audience, particularly students preparing for life after school.
He also extended an invitation to The Doon School’s cricket team to play a match in Trinidad and Tobago, showcasing his commitment to cricket and community engagement.
Outcome and Impact:
The exact amount raised during the charity match is not specified in the sources, but the event was reported as a significant effort to support the hospital’s construction.
There is no direct confirmation in the provided sources that the hospital was fully built or operational post-2013, but the initiative was a notable step toward addressing the healthcare needs of the flood-affected Kedar Valley, including Guptakashi.
Context of the 2013 Uttarakhand Floods: The floods, triggered by heavy rainfall, caused widespread destruction in Uttarakhand, particularly in the Kedar Valley, affecting pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath and nearby towns like Guptakashi. The disaster left many without access to medical facilities, underscoring the need for a hospital in the region.