High Alert by the Health Department in the World-Famous Shravani Mela; 42 ANMs and 16 Ambulances Deployed Alongside Doctors to Handle Emergencies
Bhagalpur, Special Correspondent: The district administration and the health department have mobilized completely regarding the health and safety of devotees during the world-famous Shravani Mela, which commences along the sacred northward-flowing banks of the Ganges in Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, and the renowned kanwar route leading toward Deoghar in Jharkhand. Amidst long foot journeys, humid weather, and massive crowds, a highly comprehensive and robust health action plan has been devised to promptly rescue Shiva devotees from any health issues or emergencies. Under this initiative, alongside skilled medical practitioners, a foolproof deployment of 42 trained ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) and 16 advanced life-support ambulances has been secured across the mela zone and kanwar route, operating round the clock.
The Framework of Health Services: Medical Teams Monitoring Every Corner
During the Shravani Mela, crores of kanwarias journeying from every corner of the country collect holy Ganges water from Sultanganj and depart for Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand. To tackle common ailments such as fatigue, dehydration, viral fever, foot blisters, stomach disorders, and high blood pressure, alongside any accidental emergencies during this period, the health department has fully geared up.
Establishment of Temporary Health Camps: Dozens of high-tech and well-equipped temporary health camps have been set up spanning from Bhagalpur to the main kanwar route. All modern facilities, ranging from OPD services to primary medical treatment, are being provisioned at these camps.
Shift-Wise Duties: To ensure zero disruption in medical care for kanwarias at any hour, the duties of doctors, pharmacists, and medical personnel have been organized into three distinct shifts, enabling the camps to function continuously day and night.
Special Deputation of 42 ANMs and Medical Staff
To render medical arrangements even more effective at the grassroots level, the health department has deployed a large contingent of paramedical staff and nursing personnel:
Responsibility of Nursing Services: A total of 42 trained ANMs have been deployed across the mela zone and various medical camps. Working hand-in-hand with doctors, these ANMs are handling vital responsibilities such as patient examinations, medicine distribution, dressing (for foot blisters and treating injuries), and administering intravenous fluids/glucose.
Special Briefing: Prior to assuming duty, all deployed medical personnel received explicit directives regarding crowd management, emergency first aid, and maintaining polite, sensitive behavior toward kanwarias.
Deployment of 16 Modern Ambulances and Boat Ambulances
To promptly tackle emergencies and transport critically ill or injured devotees to higher medical centers in minimal time, the transportation and ambulance network has been reinforced:
16 Life-Saving Ambulances: A total of 16 advanced ambulances have been kept on 'ready mode' 24 hours a day across the mela zone, the Sultanganj Referral Hospital, and primary kanwar routes. Oxygen cylinders, primary ventilator-support equipment, stretchers, and life-saving medicines remain perpetually available inside these ambulances.
Two Special 'Boat Ambulances' on the Ganges: Accounting for the distinct geographical terrain of the mela zone, two state-of-the-art boat ambulances have also been deployed within the Ganges River through the coordination of water police and the health department. Floating near Namami Gange Ghat and Purani Sidi Ghat, these boat ambulances are engineered to manage emergencies if a devotee faints or faces drowning risks while bathing in deep waters. Doctors and paramedical staff remain stationed onboard them at all times.
Connectivity with Control Rooms and Higher Centers
A central control room has been established at the Community Health Center (CHC) in Sultanganj to monitor the entire healthcare apparatus.
The moment a doctor or ANM reports via phone from any camp, the control room immediately dispatches the nearest available ambulance to the respective area.
Provisions have been established to refer critical patients instantly from Sultanganj Hospital to Bhagalpur's Mayaganj Hospital (JLNMCH) or Sadar Hospital for advanced care under green corridor-like arrangements.
This robust deployment of 42 ANMs and 16 ambulances (including boat ambulances) alongside a large team of doctors conveys the clear message that the district administration and health department are completely earnest and vigilant regarding the preservation of devotees' lives. Owing to these foolproof medical arrangements, Shiva devotees visiting this year's Shravani Mela are receiving prompt and superior assistance during any medical emergency, rendering their sacred kanwar pilgrimage much safer and uninterrupted.
