Suhail Rather

Bandipora, Oct 14 (KNS): Markets remained shut and residents staged protests in Dawar, Gurez, on Wednesday following the death of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, with the family alleging a delay in referring her to District Hospital Bandipora for specialised treatment.

Protesters blocked roads, closed shops and staged a sit-in, demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and accountability for any lapses in medical care.

The deceased was identified as Haseena Begum, wife of Showket Hameed Lone, a resident of Mazgund village in Tulail.

According to the family, Haseena was taken to Primary Health Centre Sheikhpora on Tuesday afternoon, where medical staff were allegedly unavailable.

She was subsequently shifted to Sub-District Hospital Gurez, where doctors reportedly advised her referral to District Hospital Bandipora after finding her blood levels critically low.

The family alleged that snowfall and difficulties in arranging road clearance delayed the transfer despite efforts to seek assistance from Project Beacon.

A family member claimed that Haseena remained in pain throughout the night and that her unborn baby died before delivery around midnight at SDH Gurez.

A senior doctor at District Hospital Bandipora told KNS that the woman reached the hospital around 8 am on Wednesday and was declared dead on arrival.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurez Dr Mukhtar said medical authorities had informed him 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 agencies to ascertain road conditions.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

According to the SDM, the concerned agencies subsequently confirmed that the road was open, following which the patient was shifted to Bandipora in the early hours of Wednesday.

However, Block Medical Officer Gurez Dr Feroz Iqbal maintained that the Health Department had informed the administration in time, but the patient could not be shifted promptly.

The differing accounts have raised questions over the timing of the referral and the arrangements made for transporting the patient.

Former District Development Council member from Tulail, Raja Ajaz, also questioned the availability of emergency healthcare facilities in the region.

He said a blood storage unit recently inaugurated in Gurez had yet to become operational, leaving patients facing difficulties during medical emergencies.

Chief Medical Officer Bandipora Dr Bhajan Kour confirmed that the Health Department had initiated an inquiry into the incident.

Health Minister Sakina Itoo assured that action would follow if the inquiry established negligence or other lapses.

The deaths have renewed concerns over emergency medical services and patient transportation in Gurez, where snowfall and difficult road conditions frequently affect connectivity with Bandipora.

The cause of the deaths, the circumstances of the referral and responsibility for any delay remain under investigation. No official findings establishing negligence had been announced.(KNS)