The Health department is making elaborate arrangements in connection with Attukal Pongala for the safety of the thousands, including women and children, gathering for the event in the capital.

Full-fledged medical teams are being put in place for managing any health emergencies . Also, on account of the rise in mercury levels and anticipating heat–related emergencies, heat clinics are being opened in select urban primary health centres and other major hospitals to provide necessary care to people. The heat clinics will be equipped with air coolers, fans, ice packs, IV fluids, ORS and necessary medicines. People who are affected by intense heat will be given care in these heat clinics.

On Pongala day, 10 medical teams with ambulances will be deployed in various parts of the city. The medical teams will have doctors, staff nurses and junior public health nurses. Already, one medical team and ambulance is on standby from March 5 to 14, till the temple festival concludes. A second medical team has also been deployed now. Round-the-clock services are being provided by a medical team, which include paediatric services, to provide care to children who are participating in “Kuthiyottam” and are undergoing the rigor of the ritualistic fasting.

Medical teams have been provided by the Indian Medical Association and other medicine systems. A control room will function round the clock at the office of the district medical officer. The urban health centres in the periphery will function as field hospitals providing first aid.

Fort Taluk Hospital, General Hospital, Thycaud Women and Children Hospital and the Ayranimuttom community health centre have been asked to set aside at least 10 beds to provide burns care as well as preliminary medical care in case of a fire-related emergency. The Government Medical College Hospital here will function as a centre to handle any emergency, with beds set aside for treating burns or other acute medical conditions.

The department has also directed all major private hospitals to set aside special beds, ambulances and make all arrangements for handling any medical emergency that might arise

Eleven ambulances of Kanivu 108 service, Bike First responder service, ICU ambulance and ambulances from private hospitals and other departments will be on service throughout to manage acute medical emergencies.

The Food Safety wing’s control room and special squads are on alert to monitor food safety . All organisations conducting mass feeding or serving food to the devotees should mandatorily have FSSAI registration.

The control room of the Food Safety wing, functioning near Attukal Devi Auditorium, will issue the FSSAI certificates for those doing mass feeding in connection with the pongala.

A mobile lab of the food safety wing will be parked near the temple. Food Safety officials have strengthened their inspection in the city in connection with the pongala