Family alleges snowfall, movement restrictions delayed shifting to Bandipora hospital
Bandipora, Oct 14: A pregnant woman from Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district died after being shifted to District Hospital Bandipora on Wednesday, while her baby was stillborn, with the family alleging that snowfall and movement restrictions delayed her referral to the hospital.
The deceased, identified as Haseen Bagem, wife of Showket Hameed Lone and a resident of Mazgund village in Tulail, was taken to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Gurez late Tuesday evening after her family allegedly found no medical staff available at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Sheikhpora.
The family told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that doctors at SDH Gurez informed them that she had a low blood level and advised that she be shifted to District Hospital Bandipora for further treatment.
According to the family, they were unable to proceed towards Bandipora due to snowfall and movement restrictions imposed in the area.
“We first took her to PHC Sheikhpora, but no one was available there. We then brought her to SDH Gurez, where doctors told us that she had low blood levels and needed to be shifted to Bandipora,” a family member said.
The family further alleged that they contacted Project Beacon, the Border Roads Organisation’s road-maintenance agency in the area and were assured that the road would be cleared for the ambulance.
“Beacon officials told us to proceed towards Bandipora and said they would clear the road ahead of the ambulance. But the SDM Gurez did not allow us to move,” the family member alleged.
The family said the woman remained in pain throughout the night and that the baby died in the womb before delivery at SDH Gurez around midnight.
A senior doctor at District Hospital Bandipora, when contacted by KNO, said the woman was brought to the hospital around 8 am on Wednesday and was declared brought dead.
The family also questioned the availability of blood supplies at the local health facility, stating that a blood bank had been inaugurated in Gurez several months ago by the local MLA.
Repeated attempts by KNO to contact the Block Medical Officer (BMO) Gurez and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Bandipora for their comments were unsuccessful.—(KNO)
