Deployment of doctors at Gangasagar Mela has become a major challenge for the South 24-Parganas district administration barely a day ahead of commencement of the grand fair with around 100 doctors of Diamond Harbour Government Medical College and Hospital having tested positive for Covid-19.
With many of the remaining doctors having been assigned duties at the Mela, the hospital authorities have appealed to the district administration for exemption of their duties, else, it would become difficult to render regular patient services at the hospital.
The district administration has appealed to the state health department to arrange for doctors immediately for deployment on Gangasagar Island so that temporary Covid facilities set up at the fair could be managed.
“It has become a very tough situation...without doctors, organising a mela is not possible in this Covid situation,” P. Ulaganathan, the South 24-Parganas district magistrate, said.
“I have requested the health department to arrange for doctors. They have assured me of solving the crisis. I am, however, hopeful that local doctors would join duties once they recover,” the district magistrate told The Telegraph, adding that if pushed to the wall, doctors from other parts of the district would have to be engaged at the Mela.
However, the district administration apprehends that there would not be much crowd this time because of a severe surge in the infections.
Calcutta High Court on Friday gave permission to the Mamata Banerjee government for holding this year’s Gangasagar Mela but constituted a three-member committee to monitor adherence to the Covid safety protocols at the fair.
The district administration has planned to deploy over 300 doctors for 18 facility centres to manage 1,910 beds at the fair. Out of the 18 facility centres, six are temporary hospitals at Lot-8, Narayanpur, Kachuberia, Chemaguri, Island Fairground and Rudranagar.
A large number of doctors from Diamond Harbour subdivision, particularly the Diamond Harbour Government Medical College and South 24-Parganas District Hospital, were assigned duties at the venue. “It is not possible for us to spare the remaining doctors as it would seriously affect patients’ service. So, we have urged the district administration for exemption from their Gangasagar duties,” a senior official of the DHGMC said.
Although Ulaganathan termed the situation as an “unusual crisis”, he was hopeful of overcoming the crisis.
“We are trying our best to manage the situation. There is not just a shortage of doctors, we are suffering a shortage of administrative officials too since a number of BDOs have tested positive,” he said.
The district administration held a meeting on the Mela premises on Saturday afternoon where police were advised stringent “access control” and “barricading control” to manage crowds.
“We have deployed 2,100 civic volunteers who will ensure that no more than 50 persons gather at any spot at any time. At the same time, bathing on the beach would be strictly controlled according to the court order. We will rather promote eSnan to avoid crowding on the beach,” the DM said.
The district administration has identified nine locations in the state that include Howrah and Sealdah stations as well as Babughat, through which the pilgrims would be passing. “But none will be allowed to move ahead without proper screening and testing. Enough arrangements have been made to ensure it,” an official said.
The administration has also identified a “green corridor” through the Kachuberia ghat for shifting critical patients to better medical facilities.
Special measures
Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday interacted with officials of the South 24Parganas district administration where he reviewed the district’s Covid situation. Among several other measures to curb the spread of Covid, the MP stressed proactive selftesting, distribution of food among the affected people in rural areas, and making wearing of double masks mandatory at public places in the district till January 15.
