NCR St. John Brigade Scales Up Skills in Kerala for Magh Mela 2026

Prayagraj : The North Central Railway (NCR) Prayagraj’s St. John Ambulance Brigade recently concluded its intensive annual training camp, a critical preparatory exercise held in Ernakulam, Kerala, from December 7 to 11, 2025. The camp was specifically designed to equip the volunteers with advanced life-saving skills ahead of their crucial deployment during the upcoming Magh Mela 2026.

A dedicated contingent of 47 brigade members underwent comprehensive training focusing on immediate first aid, healthcare, and emergency response protocols. Uniquely, the curriculum was broadened to include specialized techniques like mountain climbing, ensuring the team is ready for diverse and challenging operational scenarios they may encounter, particularly in dense crowd management areas.

The rigorous five-day camp was spearheaded by the divisional command leadership, Dr. Ashish Agrawal (Medical) and Shri Dinesh Kumar (Administration). Sessions featured invaluable contributions from expert guest speakers, including Shri M.K. Kulshrestha, Dr. Parvez Ahmed, Shri M.H. Ansari, and Shri A.K. Arya, who shared their domain expertise to enrich the volunteers’ knowledge.

Core training modules focused on perfecting parade discipline, stretcher drills, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and advanced first aid application, with a significant emphasis on the safe and efficient transportation of patients to medical facilities.

The camp concluded successfully on December 12, 2025, at the Ernakulam Town Railway Station, where the dedication of key contributors like Pawan Kumar, Jitendra Vishwakarma, and Chandra Prakash Yadav was formally acknowledged. This successful exercise ensures the NCR Brigade is fully prepared to provide swift and competent emergency medical support during the Magh Mela.

(Report by Zainul Abdin)