Sri Anandpur Sahib:Marking the historic 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, millions of devotees converged at Sri Anandpur Sahib to pay homage to the revered ninth Sikh Guru, remembered globally as the “Hind Di Chadar” for his unparalleled sacrifice to protect faith and humanity. Amid this massive congregation, the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, rolled out an extensive healthcare and public-welfare infrastructure to ensure seamless medical assistance and essential facilities for all visiting pilgrims.

For the first time on such a large scale, the state administration activated round-the-clock emergency medical services across Ropar, Kiratpur Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib. In addition, critical care units were strengthened in Sri Anandpur Sahib and Ropar to provide immediate support in cases of serious medical emergencies. Senior health officials stated that the arrangements were aimed at ensuring that “no pilgrim faces even a moment’s delay in receiving medical assistance.”

Alongside emergency care, the government also focused on essential public-health needs. Free sanitary pads, sanitary-waste disposal units, and mother-child feeding rooms were made available across key locations, reflecting the administration’s emphasis on hygiene and dignity for women and young mothers during large gatherings.

To expand grassroots medical access, the Health Department set up 19 additional Aam Aadmi Clinics, increasing the total to 40 operational clinics at congregation points. All clinics remained functional 24 hours a day, offering OPD services, medical consultations, and diagnostic testing.

A status report issued on November 22 confirmed the scale of public response:

1,111 patients received medical consultations,

99 laboratory tests were conducted free of cost, and

Under the special ‘Nigaah Langar’, 522 devotees underwent eye check-ups, with 390 receiving free spectacles.

In a noteworthy case, a patient requiring cataract surgery was successfully operated upon at the District Hospital, Ropar.

To ensure rapid response in emergencies, the government stationed 24 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and 7 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances across high-footfall zones. A dedicated medical emergency helpline — 98155-88342 — was kept operational round the clock. Blood donation camps have also been scheduled, including a major drive at Virasat-e-Khalsa on November 25 and additional camps at Panj Piara Park on other days.

Officials maintained that these arrangements reflected the state government’s commitment to uphold the spirit of service on this sacred occasion. “The Mann government considers public service its primary duty,” a senior officer said. “Honouring the legacy of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji means serving the people with devotion, humility and readiness.”

All deployed healthcare and support services will continue functioning in the coming days to facilitate the ongoing influx of devotees.