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The Guardian Chronicle

Health, Safety & Emergency Helplines

A charitable hospital building in Deoghar

Shravani Mela draws immense crowds through the monsoon month, and while the atmosphere is joyful and devotional, the combination of heat, rain, long walks, and dense gatherings makes health and safety a genuine priority. A little preparation goes a long way. This guide sets out practical advice for staying safe, healthy, and calm during your pilgrimage to Deoghar.

Crowd Safety

  • Stay within barricaded lanes and follow the directions of police, security staff, and volunteers at all times
  • Never push or rush in a dense crowd; move steadily with the flow rather than against it
  • Keep children holding hands with an adult, and agree on a meeting point in advance
  • Be aware of exits and note where help desks and police posts are located
  • If you feel faint or trapped in a crush, try to stay upright and move sideways toward the edge

Heat and Hydration

Shravan falls in the monsoon, but days can still be hot and humid, and long walks or hours in a queue can quickly cause dehydration and heat exhaustion.

  • Drink water regularly from safe sources; carry a bottle and refill at official water points
  • Use oral rehydration salts if you are walking long distances or sweating heavily
  • Rest in shade during the hottest hours and avoid overexertion
  • Watch for warning signs such as dizziness, headache, cramps, or reduced urination, and seek help early

Monsoon Precautions

  • Carry a light raincoat or poncho; paths can turn muddy and slippery
  • Protect your feet and watch your step on wet, uneven ground
  • Eat freshly cooked food and avoid anything that may have been standing in the heat, as stomach infections spread easily in crowds
  • Keep documents, phone, and medicines in a waterproof pouch

Keeping Valuables Safe

  • Carry only what you need; leave extra cash and valuables in secure storage at your lodging or a cloakroom
  • Keep money and phone in a front pocket or a pouch worn under clothing
  • Be alert to pickpockets in dense areas and around entry gates
  • Keep a written note of important phone numbers in case your phone is lost or its battery dies

If You Get Separated

  • Go to the nearest police help desk, “lost and found” booth, or announcement centre; these are set up around the Mela area
  • For children, elderly, or first-time visitors, pin a note or tag with a contact name and number to their clothing
  • Fix a clear meeting point and time with your group before entering the crowd

Medical Help and Emergency Contacts

The administration typically sets up first-aid posts, medical camps, and ambulance points along the pilgrim routes and near the temple during the Mela. If you feel unwell, do not wait; approach the nearest camp. Before you travel, note the current official helpline numbers and save them in your phone.

  • National emergency number: 112
  • Ambulance: 108
  • Police: 100  ·  Fire: 101  ·  Child helpline: 1098  ·  Cyber fraud: 1930
  • Sadar Hospital, Deoghar: 9263002130
  • Deoghar Fire Station: 06432-223260
  • Baba Mandir (temple office): 06432-232680

The numbers above are those listed by the Deoghar district administration on deoghar.nic.in. In any emergency, 112 is the fastest route — it works from any phone, anywhere in India.

Help on the ground during the Mela

Rather than a single public Mela helpline number, the district runs help on the ground. For the 2026 Mela:

  • The fair area is divided into sectors, each with its own control room, backed by a central AI-assisted control room using CCTV, face recognition, drones and ANPR cameras.
  • A QR-code based complaint system and a chatbot helpline let pilgrims report a problem from where they are standing. Scan the QR codes displayed along the queue and at help desks.
  • Help desks, control rooms and directional signboards are placed along the kanwariya route; more than 11,000 police personnel are deployed across Deoghar and Dumka for the Mela.
  • First-aid centres, medical teams and ambulances are stationed across the fair area, with camps along the route treating dehydration, heat exhaustion, foot blisters and minor injuries. On the Bihar leg alone, over 40 health camps operate across Bhagalpur, Munger and Banka districts, stocking free medicines.

If you are walking the route from Sultanganj, the Bhagalpur district administration has published control-room numbers for the Bihar leg: Sultanganj helpline 0641-2492031, police control room 0641-2492064, Ajgaibinath control room 0641-2492062 and Sidhi Ghat control room 0641-2492017.

Helpline numbers, camp locations and sector boundaries are re-issued each season and can change during the Mela. Confirm them against official Deoghar district administration announcements (deoghar.nic.in) or at the nearest help desk before relying on them. When in doubt, call 112.