Chhath: Patna hospitals put on alert for any exigency

PATNA: At least 90 teams of doctors and healthcare workers will be deputed at major ghats along the banks of the Ganga during Chhath for Covid test and vaccination.
Covid safety norms will be prominently displayed at all the approach roads and ghats, including those being spruced up near ponds and other water bodies, divisional commissioner of Patna Sanjay Kumar Agrawal said.
“A large number of people from other states and abroad are likely to reach the state capital for participating in Chhath festivities. Many among them could still be unvaccinated and it would be a risk to others. Hence, instructions have been issued to set up temporary Covid test and vaccination centres at Chhath ghats,” Agrawal added.
He said boat ambulance service would also be available to help the devotees and others in case of any emergency. “The district administration has appealed to the senior citizens and children to avoid visiting the ghats in the larger interest of their health. Levelling of ghats, lighting, cleanliness and repair of damaged drains are in progress at all places. National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force personnel will patrol the river stretch from Danapur to Patna City,” the divisional commissioner added.
Patna DM Dr Chandrashekhar Singh said apart from deployment of static medical teams at all the ghats, the three major hospitals of the city – Patna Medical College and Hospital, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital and Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences – have been put on alert.
“These hospitals will keep their emergency units and operation theatres ready. Other district hospitals and primary health centres have also been asked to make necessary arrangements to meet any eventuality,” the DM added.
The DM on Friday inspected different ghats along the Ganga in Danapur like Nasriganj Ghat, Nariyal Ghat, Peepapul Ghat, SDO Ghat, Sherpur Ghat and Haldi Chapra Ghat to review preparations. He directed the magistrates and other officials to undertake required works on a mission mode and create parking spaces.
Finding the river current still high at Haldi Chapra Ghat, the DM asked the officials of the water resources department and the circle officer of Maner to consult members of the local puja committee and present the real status of the ghat so that the administration could demarcate safe and dangerous zones there. The dangerous zone would be demarcated with red curtain.