12-hour bandh brings Odisha’s Deogarh to a halt; demands for 24×7 healthcare gain momentum

Normal life came to a standstill in Deogarh on Thursday as the district observed a 12-hour bandh called by the Deogarh Zilla Yuba Ekata Manch. The shutdown was in protest demanding round-the-clock healthcare facilities at the Old District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).

The bandh, which received support from several political parties and social organisations, witnessed closure of government and private offices, shops, markets, and other business establishments. Vehicular movement was also severely affected as protestors staged demonstrations across key points in the town.

Residents alleged that despite being a district hospital, the facility has been functioning without adequate doctors, staff, and 24-hour services, forcing patients to depend on nearby towns for emergency medical care.

The agitators maintained that uninterrupted healthcare is a basic right and pressed the government for urgent intervention. “The district hospital must run with full-fledged facilities. People should not suffer due to lack of emergency services,” one protester said.

Meanwhile, police were deployed in sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident. The bandh is being observed peacefully, though essential services like healthcare, milk supply and emergency transport were exempted from the shutdown.

The protestors have warned of intensifying their agitation if their demands are not met at the earliest.