Health crisis at Jantar Mantar protests spreads

Protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar have coincided with a rising tide of health concerns as overcrowding, heat, and open-air living conditions drive viral infections, dehydration, headaches, fevers, and other illnesses among protesters, police, journalists, and volunteers. Volunteer doctors from groups such as Punjab’s Five River Heart Association report that more than 200 people have received paracetamol and related care by midweek, with many elderly protesters needing treatment for diabetes and hypertension and receiving essential medicines on-site. The health strain is exacerbated by insufficient meals and rest, with people sleeping on the ground and relying on food and ORS provided at the site, while infections spread through coughing and sneezing amid dense crowds. In addition to viral infections, attendees report sprains, minor injuries, and dehydration, prompting a steady flow of medical volunteers and a constant on-site medical team of four to five doctors. The protests’ political context, including accountability calls over the education sector and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, provides background for the demonstrations and the larger public health concerns at Jantar Mantar. Overall, the situation at Jantar Mantar reflects a convergence of political activism and urgent health challenges linked to extreme outdoor conditions and sustained mass gatherings.