Bhubaneswar: Anticipating a massive influx of devotees during this year’s Rath Yatra in Puri, the Health department has put in place extensive medical arrangements to ensure prompt emergency healthcare services.
As part of the preparedness, the department has established a comprehensive emergency response system at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), including a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a 10-bed Trauma Care Centre, a 10-bed Burn Ward and a fully equipped operating theatre.
An additional 150 beds have also been arranged in the hospital’s newly constructed building to handle any surge in patients during the festival. A large medical workforce will be deployed throughout the festival, with 230 doctors, including 66 specialists, two cardiologists, two neurologists and two plastic surgeons, supported by 200 nursing officers and 229 paramedical staff to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services.
To manage heat-related illnesses, the Puri DHH will have 10 cooling beds, while each Community Health Centre (CHC) will be equipped with two cooling beds and every Primary Health Centre (PHC) with one dedicated bed for heatstroke patients.
The Health department will set up 30 first-aid centres across Puri city and adjoining areas, including 11 round-the-clock centres along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) during the festival.