Bandipora, Oct 14 : Markets remained shut in Dawar, the main town of Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, on Wednesday as residents staged protests over the death of a pregnant woman and her baby, alleging a delay in her referral to District Hospital Bandipora amid snowfall.
Protesters blocked roads, closed shops and staged a sit-in, raising slogans against the administration and demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The deceased, Haseena Begum, wife of Showket Hameed Lone, was a resident of Mazgund village in Tulail.
According to her family, she was initially taken to Primary Health Centre Sheikhpora on Tuesday afternoon after developing pregnancy-related complications. However, they alleged that medical staff were unavailable at the facility.
She was subsequently shifted to Sub-District Hospital Gurez, where doctors advised her referral to Bandipora due to low blood levels and her deteriorating condition.
The family alleged that snowfall and restrictions on vehicular movement delayed her transfer despite efforts to arrange an ambulance.
They also claimed that Project Beacon had assured road clearance, but the ambulance could not proceed in time.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurez Dr Mukhtar said he was informed by a medical officer about the need to shift the patient to Bandipora.
He said snowfall around Razdan Pass had affected movement, prompting him to contact Project Beacon and other concerned agencies to ascertain road conditions.
The SDM said the agencies subsequently confirmed that the road was open, following which the patient was shifted to District Hospital Bandipora in the early hours of Wednesday.
However, Block Medical Officer Gurez Dr Feroz Iqbal alleged that medical authorities had informed the administration in time but could not shift the patient promptly.
Former District Development Council member from Tulail, Raja Ajaz, questioned the availability of essential healthcare facilities in the remote region.
He said a blood storage unit recently inaugurated in Gurez was yet to become operational, raising concerns over emergency medical services.
Chief Medical Officer Bandipora Dr Bhajan Kour described the deaths as unfortunate and said the Health Department was investigating the matter.
The incident has renewed concerns over emergency healthcare arrangements in Gurez, where snowfall and difficult road conditions frequently affect access to specialised medical treatment.
Residents demanded accountability, improved referral arrangements and functional healthcare facilities to prevent similar incidents. (KNS)Â
