Deogarh Youth Forum Leads 12-Hour Bandh Demanding 24×7 Healthcare Access
Deogarh, — August 21, (OT Webdesk)
A 12-hour bandh brought Deogarh to a standstill today as the District Youth Ekata Manch led a mass protest demanding the restoration of round-the-clock healthcare services at the town’s old hospital premises.
The agitation follows the relocation of the district headquarters hospital to Nuabaliroi, which residents say has left them without accessible emergency care.
Beginning at 6 AM, the bandh saw widespread participation from political parties, civil society groups, and local citizens.
Protesters staged sit-ins at Old Traffic Square and Ambedkar Chowk, blocking National Highway 49 and disrupting traffic on the crucial Bombay-Kolkata corridor. Goods-laden trucks were stranded on both sides of the highway.
Shops, schools, colleges, banks, and government offices remained closed throughout the day. Bus services were suspended, and commercial activity came to a halt. The Deogarh Bar Association also extended its support to the protest.
The Youth Forum has urged authorities to reinstate 24×7 medical services at the old hospital to ensure equitable healthcare access for Deogarh’s residents.
The bandh marks a significant escalation in public demand for improved health infrastructure in the region.
