Agartala, 13th October 2026 : Protesting the transfer of medicine specialist Dr. Gautam Debnath from Dhalai District Hospital to Gandachara, local residents blocked the Ambassa-Kamalpur road for around two hours on Tuesday morning. The blockade began at approximately 10:30 am and was withdrawn after the hospital’s Medical Superintendent assured the protesters.
The transfer of Dr. Debnath has triggered resentment among residents, who fear that the repeated relocation of specialist doctors could adversely affect healthcare services at the district hospital. They expressed concern that the shortage of specialists would create additional difficulties for general and economically disadvantaged patients who depend on the government-run facility for treatment.
According to local residents, a gynaecologist was also transferred from the hospital recently. They said the transfer of Dr. Debnath, shortly after the earlier relocation, had further intensified concerns over the availability of specialist medical services.
The protesters maintained that a district hospital serving a large population must have an adequate number of specialist doctors to ensure proper treatment. They warned that the successive transfers could weaken healthcare delivery and force patients to face greater difficulties in accessing specialised treatment.
To draw the attention of the authorities to their concerns, residents took to the road on Tuesday morning, disrupting traffic along the Ambassa-Kamalpur route and causing inconvenience to commuters.
The situation was brought under control after the Medical Superintendent held discussions with the protesters and gave assurances regarding their concerns. Following the intervention, the blockade was lifted after approximately two hours.
However, residents remain concerned about the continued transfer of specialist doctors from Dhalai District Hospital. They have called for adequate staffing to ensure that patients in the district can access essential and specialised medical services without unnecessary hardship.
