Santosh Singh’s face, etched with worry, softened as he boarded the helicopter with his ailing father. “I never imagined such swift and compassionate support,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Prem Singh, 85, had cherished a lifelong dream of taking a holy dip at Gangasagar. Despite his disability, Santosh had brought his father to fulfill this cherished wish. However, soon after their initial dip, Prem Singh’s health took a sudden turn for the worse. “He fell sick, suddenly,” Santosh recalled — “but I had to do nothing. I have never seen such an empathetic government with so good coordination between all the departments.”
So far, with the ongoing Gangasagar mela, which ends on Friday, nine patients have been airlifted from Sagar to a hospital in Kolkata.
A dedicated helipad, connected to both the Mela Control Room and the Sagar Control Room, plays a crucial role in ensuring swift medical attention for pilgrims. “If anyone is found sick, they are first taken to a hospital by ambulance,” explained an official at the helipad control room.
“Ambulances are stationed throughout the mela ground. However, if the patient’s condition remains critical, they are airlifted by helicopter to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital or M R Bangur Hospital in Kolkata. The entire process, from the mela ground to the hospital, takes less than one hour.”
“The helicopter, stationed near the mela ground, is equipped with a stretcher but not with life-saving equipment. In the last four days, we have airlifted nine patients,” said a transport official.
Gangasagar Mela in Sagar Island, in the South 24 Parganas district, is situated over 100 km from Kolkata and accessible only by vessel. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee outlined a Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for casualties in the mela between January 9 and 17.
The West Bengal government arranged for medical provisions at the fair, which include intensive care facilities, air ambulances, 515 hospital beds with ICUs, and 100 ambulances for patient transport.
Local people said that in recent years, significant infrastructure development has taken place at Gangasagar — including improved roads, shelters, sanitation, and cleanliness. One of the notable features includes a communication approach. Alongside Bengali and English, Hindi signage is prominently displayed.
State minister Aroop Biswas said, “‘Sab tirath bar bar, Gangasagar ek bar’ is a phrase commonly used, but Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has transformed this belief, ensuring that Gangasagar remains a beacon of hope and comfort for all pilgrims.”
This year, even as six people have so far died in the mela due to sickness, pilgrims largely expressed positive surprise and gratitude for the arrangements. “Whether it’s lighting, decoration, or cleanliness, everything has been well taken care of. Due to the Kumbh mela, this time the crowd was comparatively little less than we could feel,” said Golok Das, a couch seller near Ganga Sagar Mela Road Number 2.
Several pilgrims echoed similar sentiments.
Ananda Dhara, a resident of South 24 Parganas district, who has visited Gangasagar twice before, pointed to the improvement in the availability of toilets and temporary shelters compared to previous years, including 2019.
The mela area has more than 4,000 temporary toilets for pilgrims which are cleaned every ten minutes.
Kusum Pimpaikar, a pilgrim from Maharashtra, was particularly impressed with the availability of separate changing rooms for men and women. “My concern was where will I change after my holy dip… I was surprised to see so many changing rooms,” he said, while others like Kalyani and Madhavi Das emphasised the special care taken for women pilgrims.
Arun Jhanjharia from Nagpur highlighted the efficient crowd management and the availability of medical assistance. “We came on Thursday and got a temporary shelter to stay. The government’s volunteers have come and asked if we needed anything. Those who are sick have been immediately attended to and have been given medicines too. It is so surprising to see such an organized maha mela,” he said.
Ajit Das of Siliguri praised the overall improvement in the organisation of the mela, stating, “Things have changed drastically. Today, while I am going back, I just want to say there is no comparison of Gangasagar Mela in terms of arrangements.”
Arijit Jha from Nawada, Bihar, praised the availability of modern conveniences like temporary wash basins, charging points, and open showers near the beach.
“This comprehensive approach reflects a strategic move to elevate Gangasagar Mela to the status of a truly national event, attracting a wider spectrum of tourists and enhancing its cultural and religious significance on a national scale,” said an NGO owner, who has been part of Gangasagar Mela for the last 18 years.