Air Ambulance on Standby for West Bengal's Rath Yatra Festival

The West Bengal government has announced plans to station an air ambulance in Digha during the 'Ulto Rath Yatra' festival of Lord Jagannath. This strategic move aims to provide rapid medical intervention, should emergencies arise amid the influx of festival-goers.

The decision, revealed by an official, was made during a meeting at the state secretariat, chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The helicopter, tasked with emergency operations, is scheduled to be on standby from noon on July 4, ready to transport patients to Kolkata if necessary.

The administration anticipates a significant crowd for the July 5 event. Meanwhile, the festival officially kicked off on June 27, when Banerjee inaugurated the newly built Jagannath temple in Digha, reflecting the cultural depth and fervor of the occasion.

(With inputs from agencies.)