The Tinsukia OPD — first stop of a two-town Saturday
On the 3rd Saturday of each month Dr. Agarwal comes to Tinsukia first and then goes on to Dibrugarh the same afternoon. The Tinsukia clinic is a late-morning session, which suits families who come in from Margherita, Digboi, Doomdooma, Makum and the Arunachal border towns by the morning trains and buses.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Darpan Diagnostics, R.D. Complex (1st floor), Rangagora Road, Tinsukia · open in Google Maps |
| When | 3rd Saturday of every month |
| Timings | 11 AM – 1 PM |
| Next stop | Dibrugarh, the same afternoon, 2 PM – 4 PM — Dibrugarh OPD |
| Not done here | Endoscopy, colonoscopy, ERCP and EUS — planned in Guwahati |
Because the session is only two hours, early arrival and reports sent on WhatsApp in advance matter. Dates can shift occasionally.
Getting to Rangagora Road
- From Tinsukia Junction: the venue is under half a kilometre from the railway station — a few minutes by e-rickshaw or on foot. Ask for the R.D. Complex on Rangagora Road.
- From Margherita, Digboi and Doomdooma: shared Sumo cabs and buses end at Tinsukia town. Start early; the roads through the tea belt are slow in the rains.
- From Arunachal (Namsai, Tezu, Roing, Changlang): long journeys for many families — send your reports first so a decision can be made without you repeating tests.
Conditions that matter in the tea-and-oil belt
Dr. Agarwal was born in Margherita and schooled there, so this belt — tea gardens, coal and oil fields, and the small towns between — is home ground. Studies from Assam and the Northeast point to a few patterns worth bringing to a gastroenterologist.
- Hepatitis B and long-standing liver damage. Hepatitis B is common across Northeast India, and many people do not know they are infected until they have symptoms. A simple blood test (HBsAg) settles it. Family members should be screened and vaccinated. Liver disease guide
- Alcohol-related liver disease. Home-brewed rice beer and country liquor are part of daily life in several communities; many patients come only after the belly swells or the eyes turn yellow. Stopping alcohol is the single most effective treatment, and help to stop is part of care.
- Oesophageal and stomach problems. Assam and the Northeast report some of India's highest rates of oesophageal cancer; risk factors include tobacco (including chewed tobacco), betel nut and very hot tea. Difficulty swallowing, even for a few weeks, needs an endoscopy. Acidity, GERD & IBS
- Unexplained anaemia. Iron deficiency in adults — especially men and women past menopause — can come from slow gut bleeding, ulcers or a bowel growth, and should not be treated with iron alone.
- Black stools or vomiting blood in people with known liver disease — an emergency, because of bleeding veins (varices). What to do
When a procedure is needed — the Tinsukia route to Guwahati
Guwahati is roughly 500 km away, and an overnight train is the usual choice. The plan is built around that:
| Route | How it works | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight train | Leave Tinsukia in the evening and reach Guwahati early next morning, in time for a morning endoscopy slot at Apollo Ulubari or a Hayat visit. | Diagnostic endoscopy, colonoscopy, FibroScan |
| Fly via Dibrugarh | Dibrugarh's Mohanbari airport is roughly an hour by road from Tinsukia; flights to Guwahati take about an hour. Check current schedules. | ERCP, EUS or when time is short |
| Stay 1–2 nights | Book a room near Hayat or Ulubari; ERCP and EUS need an attendant, sometimes a night in hospital. | Therapeutic procedures |
Tell us at the OPD which train or flight suits your family; the date of the procedure is then fixed around it. Reports and biopsy results come on WhatsApp, and review is at the next Tinsukia OPD.
Booking the Tinsukia OPD?
Slots are short, so send your reports on WhatsApp in advance with your name, age and where you are travelling from.
Do not wait for the outreach date if you have:
- Vomiting blood, or black, tarry stools — read what to do
- Yellow eyes with fever, shivering or tummy pain — what it means
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain, a rigid tummy, or repeated vomiting
- Confusion or unusual sleepiness in someone with liver disease
Go straight to the nearest emergency department in Tinsukia. Go to the district civil hospital or a private hospital in town; Dibrugarh is the nearest large medical centre.
Common questions — Tinsukia
What time is the Tinsukia OPD?
Is the clinic near Tinsukia railway station?
I live in Margherita or Digboi. Do I still need to come to Tinsukia?
Someone in my family drinks daily and his belly is swelling. What should we do?
Do I have to go all the way to Guwahati for an endoscopy?
Related
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Mayank Agarwal, MBBS, MD (Medicine), DM (Gastroenterology) · Assam Medical Council Reg. No. 19633 · Last reviewed:
This page gives general information about consulting Dr. Agarwal from Tinsukia and about digestive conditions that matter in this region. It does not replace a consultation — the right tests and treatment depend on your own reports and health. Venue details and dates are checked regularly but can change; please confirm on WhatsApp before travelling.
Based on:
- Phukan RK, Ali MS, Chetia CK, Mahanta J. Role of dietary habits in the development of esophageal cancer in Assam, the north-eastern region of India. Nutr Cancer 2001;39:204–209.
- Terrault NA, et al. Update on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic hepatitis B: AASLD 2018 hepatitis B guidance. Hepatology 2018;67:1560–1599.
- National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR-NCDIR). Report of Hospital-Based and Population-Based Cancer Registries, North East India.