Chitwan hospitals poised to treat Muglin–Malekhu acident victims
Bharatpur’s Federal Hospital operates a trauma center and, along with two medical colleges and several smaller hospitals, is well-equipped to handle accident casualties.
KATHMANDU: Accident victims from the Muglin–Malekhu stretch of the Prithvi Highway can now be transported to Bharatpur more quickly and efficiently than to Kathmandu.
The Narayangadh–Muglin road is smoother and shorter, making Bharatpur a preferable destination for emergency care.
Bharatpur’s Federal Hospital operates a trauma center and, along with two medical colleges and several smaller hospitals, is well-equipped to handle accident casualties.
The hospital alone has 20 orthopedic surgeons and 21 general surgeons, according to Medical Superintendent Prof. Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel.
Advanced diagnostic tools, including CT scans and MRI machines, are fully operational, enabling treatment of complex cases such as cardiac and neurological emergencies.
Chitwan Medical College and the College of Medical Sciences, which frequently handle trauma cases, also maintain fully prepared equipment and personnel.
Dr. Dayaram Lamsal, head of the emergency department and former director of Chitwan Medical College, emphasized the importance of the “golden hour” — the critical first hour after an accident — for saving lives.
“Victims should be taken to the nearest hospital with adequate facilities as quickly as possible,” Dr. Lamsal said. Ambulances staffed with medical personnel are now standard to provide immediate care en route.
Dr. Paudel highlighted that despite traditional tendencies to send patients to Kathmandu, Bharatpur hospitals provide comparable facilities. Traveling to Kathmandu requires negotiating steep and difficult roads, whereas the route to Bharatpur is shorter and safer.
Rescue operations typically bring victims first to local hospitals in Malekhu and Gajuri, from where they are then transferred to major hospitals in Bharatpur or Kathmandu, depending on urgency and road conditions.
Local journalist Poshnath Adhikari noted that historical practices favored Kathmandu due to rough roads, but now closer hospitals like Bharatpur are increasingly recognized as the better option.
