24-Hour Bandh Tomorrow: What’s Open, What’s Closed?

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide 24-hour strike or bandh, starting from 6 am on Saturday, August 17, to 6 am on Sunday, August 18. This strike includes the withdrawal of non-essential medical services as a protest against the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

In a statement, the IMA emphasized that essential services, including emergency care, will continue to operate, while routine outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries will be halted. The strike will impact all sectors where modern medicine doctors provide services. The IMA urged the public to support the cause, highlighting the need for nationwide sympathy for the plight of doctors.

FORDA Resumes Protest

Earlier, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) announced it would resume its protests after unidentified individuals vandalized RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

On Friday, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) organized roadblocks and rallies across West Bengal during a 12-hour general strike, protesting the alleged rape and murder of the female doctor at the state-run hospital. The SUCI(C) activists criticized the state government for failing to ensure the safety of doctors.

"The vandalism inside RG Kar hospital shows that the state government has not learned its lesson from the murder of the woman doctor," an SUCI(C) leader stated.

The emergency ward, nursing station, medicine store, and parts of the outpatient department at the hospital were vandalized by miscreants during late-night protests on Thursday, following the horrific crime that took place in the hospital's seminar hall on August 9.

Kolkata Metro Services Unaffected

Meanwhile, the Kolkata Metro Railway has confirmed that it will operate normal services on August 16, despite the 12-hour general strike called by the SUCI(C) party.

Metro authorities are making all necessary arrangements to ensure that services run smoothly from 6 am to 6 pm on August 16 along the Dakshineshwar-New Garia, Joka-Majerhat, Howrah Maidan-Esplanade, Sealdah-Sector Five, and New Garia-Ruby More corridors. Adequate staff and security personnel will be deployed at all metro stations to manage any emergencies and assist commuters.

Nationwide Strike Tomorrow: What's Open

• Essential services will remain operational.
• Kolkata Metro will run as usual.

24-Hour Bandh Tomorrow: What's Closed

• Routine OPDs will not function.
• Elective surgeries will not be conducted.
• Various non-essential medical services will be withdrawn across all sectors.