A massive protest erupted in north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Wednesday after a pregnant woman from Gurez died after being shifted to the district hospital, while her baby was stillborn.
The family alleged that the deaths occurred due to the unavailability of medical staff at the local health facility and that snowfall, coupled with movement restrictions, delayed her referral to the district 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 Primary Health Centre (PHC) Sheikhpora.
The family said doctors at SDH Gurez informed them that she had low haemoglobin levels and advised that she be shifted to District Hospital Bandipora for further treatment.
However, 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 haemoglobin 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 to facilitate the ambulance's movement.
"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.
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.
Meanwhile, markets in Dawar, the main town of Gurez in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, remained shut on Wednesday as residents staged a protest over the deaths of the pregnant woman and her baby. The protesters alleged that delays in shifting her to District Hospital Bandipora had contributed to the tragedy.
Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr Bhajan Kour, said the Health Department was investigating the matter.
