Bhubaneswar: With lakhs of devotees expected to converge on Puri for this year’s Rath Yatra, the Odisha government has put in place an extensive healthcare plan, deploying 230 doctors and 46 ambulances to ensure prompt medical assistance during the annual festival.
The Health and Family Welfare Department on Monday announced elaborate arrangements at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), including a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a 10-bed Trauma Care Centre, a 10-bed cholera ward, and a dedicated surgery room. An additional 150 beds have also been arranged in the newly constructed hospital building to meet any surge in medical emergencies.
To provide round-the-clock healthcare services during the festival, the department will deploy 230 doctors, including 66 specialists, two cardiologists, two neurologists, and two plastic surgeons. The medical team will also comprise 200 nursing officers and 229 paramedical staff.
Special arrangements have been made to tackle heat-related illnesses and injuries. Ten dedicated beds have been earmarked at the Puri DHH, while Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the district have also been equipped to handle emergency cases.
As part of the emergency response plan, 30 treatment centres will be set up along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) and other parts of Puri town. Of these, 11 centres located on Bada Danda will operate round the clock.
Additionally, eight temporary 10-bed hospitals will function on both sides of the Grand Road to provide immediate medical care to devotees during the heavy rush.
The department will station 46 ambulances at strategic locations across Puri, including two Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances at the Puri DHH.
To ensure food safety during the festival, additional food safety officers have been deployed to inspect the quality of food being sold and distributed in the temple town. Besides, 30 trained personnel equipped with oxygen canisters will be stationed at key locations to respond swiftly to medical emergencies.
