Bhubaneswar, Dec 17: A 12-hour district-wide bandh called by Zilla Mahila Ekata Mancha and Yuva Ekata Manch on Tuesday brought normal life in Deogarh district to a standstill, as protesters intensified their demand for round-the-clock healthcare services at the old district hospital. The shutdown severely affected daily activities, with agitators taking to the streets at multiple locations across the town and adjoining areas.

According to reports, the protest was triggered by the limited functioning of the old district hospital, where only one doctor is currently available for a few hours a day—four hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon—leaving patients without medical care for the rest of the day. The outfits demanded immediate deployment of adequate medical staff and the introduction of 24-hour emergency and outpatient services at the facility.

The bandh led to the closure of schools, colleges, markets, and business establishments, while vehicular movement remained thin throughout the day. However, essential services such as ambulances and examination-related activities were exempted from the shutdown. Several social and local organisations extended support to the protest, lending strength to the agitation.

Protesters staged a sit-in demonstration outside the old district hospital, during which tensions flared. Police attempted to disperse the crowd, leading to minor scuffles. Reports also suggested that some protesters attacked the vehicle of the Sub-Collector. Meanwhile, Deogarh MLA Romanch Ranjan Biswal, who joined the protest in support of the demands, was detained by police, further escalating the situation in the district.

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