Angul: Normal life was affected following a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Angul Janajiban Suraksha Samiti in the district today. The outfit is observing the bandh to press for fulfillment of its four point charter of demands, including upgradation of the Angul District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) into a super speciality hospital.
The other demands include early completion of the under-construction Mahanadi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MIMSR) at Talcher, filling up of vacant doctor posts in various hospitals and health centers in the district and acquisition of a land adjacent to the DHH.
The Angul town wore a deserted look as schools, colleges, shops, offices and other establishments remained closed.
Commuters had a tough time as bus and railway services came to a grinding halt adding to the miseries of the people.
"Although the construction work is over, the hospital at Talcher is yet to start functioning. We want the hospital to be made operational without any further delay. We also want upgradation of the DHH to a super specialty hospital with trauma care facility," said an agitating local.
"Despite repeated requests to the district Collector and Health Minister, our demands have remained unheard," added the local.
"Angul is an industrial area and many mishaps are reported here on a regular basis. Due to absence of basic health care facilities, we are forced to go to hospitals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar for minor treatments. Despite government allocation worth crores, medical services in the district have remained miserable," said another agitator.