District administration initiative to provide better healthcare facilities for pilgrims and foot devotees
Published on: March 06, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Dongargarh, India
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, free medical camps by private hospitals will be set up during the upcoming Chaitra Navratri Fair at Maa Bamleshwari Temple in Dongargarh, aimed at providing better healthcare services to thousands of devotees and pilgrims visiting the shrine.
A preparatory meeting chaired by District Collector Jitendra Yadav was held at the Collectorate conference hall to coordinate healthcare arrangements for the large number of devotees expected during the fair beginning March 19, 2026.
During the meeting, the Collector emphasized that along with government health centers, private hospitals should also actively participate in providing medical services to devotees and foot pilgrims (padyatris) visiting the temple. He urged private healthcare institutions to set up temporary medical camps, deploy ambulances and ensure emergency medical duty at key locations across the fair area.
As per the proposed arrangements, temporary medical camps will be established at major fair pavilions and along important routes by private hospitals. These camps will function as primary treatment centers where doctors and nursing staff from private hospitals will be deployed on a rotational basis throughout the fair period.
The facilities will include free primary treatment and free distribution of medicines to devotees. In addition, ambulances from private hospitals will remain stationed near the fair area to handle emergency situations. Authorities also plan to introduce bike ambulance services to ensure quick response in crowded areas where larger vehicles may face difficulty.
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The Collector appealed to private medical institutions to extend their support from a humanitarian perspective by offering free primary treatment and medicine distribution to devotees attending the religious event.
Officials informed during the meeting that the Health Department will establish a 24×7 control room to coordinate with participating private hospitals and medical teams. A total of 48 healthcare institutions are expected to provide services during the fair.
Members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) present at the meeting assured full cooperation with the district administration in ensuring smooth healthcare arrangements for devotees.
Among those present in the meeting were Chief Executive Officer of District Panchayat Suruchi Singh, Joint Collector Sheetal Bansal, Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Netram Navratna, District RCH Nodal Officer Dr. Alpana Loonia, District Programme Manager Sandeep Tamrakar, along with other district-level officials and staff.
The initiative is expected to significantly strengthen medical preparedness during the Navratri fair and provide immediate healthcare assistance to the thousands of devotees who visit Dongargarh every year to seek blessings at the revered Maa Bamleshwari Temple.
