Patna: Metro services in Patna will remain suspended on the morning of March 4 as authorities implement special arrangements for Holi celebrations. Patna Metro Rail Corporation Limited said in an advisory that train operations will resume at 2.30pm from Pataliputra Bus Terminal station.
The corporation said the temporary change had been introduced to ensure passenger safety and to manage crowds during the festival. After services restart in the afternoon, trains will operate according to the regular timetable for the remainder of the day.
Alongside transport adjustments, the district administration has directed major government hospitals in the state capital to remain on alert. Outpatient department (OPD) services will be closed for the day, but emergency departments will function without interruption.
Emergency preparedness has been strengthened at Patna Medical College and Hospital, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital and All India Institute of Medical Sciences Patna. Around 75 beds have been reserved across these four medical college hospitals, with additional medicines stocked in emergency wards and doctors deployed according to a roster system.
Officials expect an increase in cases of eye and ear irritation caused by colours, as well as injuries during celebrations. Specialists in ophthalmology, dermatology, orthopaedics, general surgery and medicine have been placed on standby. At PMCH alone, 20 beds have been earmarked for Holi-related emergencies, while the trauma centre at AIIMS Patna has made additional arrangements for accident victims.
Authorities have also shared emergency contact numbers for residents requiring medical assistance during the festival. They have urged citizens to seek help promptly in case of any untoward incident and assured that hospitals and ambulance services are fully prepared to respond.
