Srinagar: The unfolding crisis in Jammu and Kashmir after the floods hit various parts of the state especially Srinagar, Anantnag ,Rajouri and some other places have created complexities at various levels. Not only has it resulted in loss to property worth thousands of crore, break down of communication systems and roadways, huge damage to infrastructure, but it has also hit the health services in the affected areas badly. Not much is known about the overall damage caused in areas like Anantnag, Pulwama, Rajouri etc, but the damage to the health facilities in Srinagar has been huge. Even before floods hit major parts of Srinagar on Sept 7th, SKIMS Hospital in Bemina had already been hit by flood waters.
The patients in ground floor had been shifted to the other floors of the hospital. Now all the major Govt hospitals in the city like GB Pant Hospital, Lal Ded Hospital etc have been damaged by the flood waters. Infact there are reports of many deaths of children in the citys only pediatric hospital, the GB Pant Hospital, owing to damage to medical equipments and shortage of essential medicine.
The citys only and the biggest Govt run maternity hospital namely Lal Ded Hospital remains dysfunctional and its maternity emergency services have been shifted to the Public Health centre in Sanat Nagar. Though some of the known private hospitals like Ahmeds, Noora and Florence Hospital have been operational since last many days, but they are not well equipped to take the load of the patients and perform complex procedures and surgeries. It is an emergency medical situation in the valley which has been compounded by the fact that many doctors wouldnt be able to resume their duties given the fact that waters have not yet receded from many areas of Srinagar and the road connectivity with Southern Kashmir is still patchy.
That the Jammu Srinagar national highway is still blocked for traffic just adds to the this emergency situation since essential medical supplies remain affected in the absence of this vital road link. Many volunteers and donors from outside the State are sending medical supplies to augment the depleted stock of medicine in the valley, but unless the State Govt swings into action, the situation will remain grim and the life of thousands of patients will be at risk.
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