Chandigarh, April 3, 2026 — Day 3 of Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, witnessed two major high-impact cleanliness operations that together demonstrated the Institute’s resolve to combine community outreach with cutting-edge mechanised hygiene technology. The PGIMER Welfare Colony received an intensive manual and mechanical cleaning drive, while the historic Nehru Hospital building underwent a comprehensive mechanised deep-cleaning operation — deploying industrial floor scrubbers, pressure jet washers, vacuum cleaners, and riding scrubber machines across its corridors, wards, toilets, and Emergency areas. The before-and-after photographic record of both activities vividly captures the transformative impact of the day’s efforts.

The PGIMER Welfare Colony — home to hundreds of Institute employees and their families — was the site of an intensive cleaning drive on Day 3. The Swachhata Rath, the mobile cleanliness vehicle of PGIMER’s Sanitation Department, led the effort across the colony’s internal roads, green verges, walkways, and residential common areas. Sanitation staff worked systematically to remove accumulated leaf litter, debris, and waste, sweeping and collecting material into designated waste bags for proper disposal.

The photographs from the drive, documented through a structured before-and-after record, show a striking visual contrast — from leaf-strewn pathways and debris-covered green areas to clean, tidy residential spaces. This initiative reinforces PGIMER’s commitment to extending the benefits of Swachhata beyond the hospital campus to the residential community that supports its functioning.

Mechanised Deep Cleaning of Nehru Hospital — Technology Meets Swachhata

In a major highlight of Day 3, PGIMER’s Sanitation Department deployed a fleet of mechanised cleaning equipment for a deep-cleaning operation across Nehru Hospital — one of PGIMER’s busiest and most historic buildings. The operation covered the Emergency corridor, Emergency Labs approach area, A-Block corridors, the Female Surgical Ward, and multiple washrooms and public toilets within the building. The scale and thoroughness of this mechanised cleaning drive exemplifies PGIMER’s investment in professional-grade sanitation infrastructure.

Equipment deployed included ride-on floor scrubbing machines for large open areas, rotary floor scrubbers for wards and washroom floors, industrial wet-and-dry vacuum cleaners for walls, ceiling fans, and high-reach surfaces, and high-pressure jet washers for toilets, urinals, and corridor windows. Swachhata Pakhwada banners prominently displayed throughout the cleaned areas served as a visible marker of the campaign’s progress.

Special attention was paid to the washrooms and public toilets within Nehru Hospital, which serve thousands of patients and attendants daily. Rotary scrubbers, high-pressure jet washers, and vacuum machines were deployed simultaneously to ensure a thorough deep clean — covering floors, walls, urinals, and wash basins.

A-Block corridors, among the busiest circulation routes in Nehru Hospital, received focused attention with high-pressure jet cleaning of the large window surfaces and corridor floors, removing accumulated grime and restoring a clean, well-lit appearance to these patient-facing spaces.

Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER

“What we are witnessing at PGIMER during Swachhata Pakhwada is not merely a campaign — it is a statement of institutional character. The transformation of Nehru Hospital through mechanised deep cleaning, and the care shown to our Welfare Colony residents, reflects the pride every member of this Institute takes in their environment. Swachhata is the foundation on which excellent clinical care is built, and PGIMER will continue to lead by example in upholding the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.”

Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER

“The mechanised cleaning drive at Nehru Hospital on Day 3 represents a quantum leap in our approach to hospital hygiene. Industrial equipment is not just more efficient — it delivers a depth of cleaning that manual methods alone cannot achieve, particularly in high-footfall areas like the Emergency corridor, washrooms, and surgical wards. I am proud of our Swachhata Karamyogis who operate this equipment with skill and dedication. Every corridor cleaned, every toilet scrubbed, every window washed — each of these is a direct contribution to patient safety and the dignity of care at PGIMER.”

Swachhata Pakhwada — Continuing Through April 15th

PGIMER’s Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 continues with a rich calendar of activities through April 15th. Upcoming highlights include the Biomedical Waste Management Quiz (April 4th), a two-day Workshop on BMW Management and Infection Control (April 6–7th), World Health Day celebrations with mass awareness activities (April 7th), poster-making competitions, Nukkad Nataks, Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir, and a grand Felicitation Day on April 15th. Daily activity reports are being submitted on the Swachhata Samiksha and myGov portals as mandated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.