Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department has put in place comprehensive healthcare arrangements for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
Director of Health Services Dr. Amarendra Mohanty informed on Saturday that special arrangements have been made this year, considering the large turnout of devotees.
“From Snana Purnima to Niladri Bije, the department has taken all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services for devotees,” he said.
A total of 265 new beds have been added to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Puri, increasing the total bed count to 601, including 27 ICU beds. Additional infrastructure at the ANM Training Center has also been upgraded to manage increased patient flow.
A network of 69 first aid centers (32 government-run and 37 managed by volunteers) has been established at key locations, including Bada Danda and the Puri sea beach. These centers are staffed with medical personnel working round-the-clock.
To address emergencies, 74 ambulances (31 government and 43 volunteer-run) have been deployed across the city. In total, 371 doctors and specialists, 404 paramedics, and 370 support staff are on duty 24×7 under the supervision of the District Chief Medical and Public Health Officer. Rapid Response Teams are also in place for immediate healthcare intervention.
To prevent waterborne and infectious diseases, sanitation and public awareness drives have been intensified by the Puri Municipality and Health Department. Food Safety Officers have been conducting rigorous inspections and water testing across the district.
From Snana Purnima to Bahuda Yatra, the Food Safety Team has inspected 1,030 locations, including 15 bottled water units, 202 hotels, and 813 street food vendors. As a result, 2,348 kg of contaminated food has been seized and destroyed, and fines totaling Rs 1,02,400 have been collected.
Health Secretary Aswathy S. and senior department officials are stationed in Puri to oversee on-ground health operations throughout the festival period.
