Srinagar, Oct 14: A pregnant woman from the remote Gurez died on her way to District Hospital Bandipora early Wednesday morning due to delay while her baby was stillborn with the family alleging that snowfall and movement restrictions delayed her medical referral.
The deceased, identified as Haseen Begum wife of Showket Hameed Lone from Mazgund village in Tulail, Gurez was taken to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Gurez by family late Tuesday evening after they found no medical staff available at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Sheikhpora, where she was taken initially.
At SDH Gurez, the doctors diagnosed her with severely low haemoglobin levels and advised an immediate referral to Bandipora for emergency care.
According to the family, they were unable to proceed towards Bandipora due to snowfall and movement restrictions imposed in the area.
The family alleged they were initially barred from crossing the high-altitude Razdan pass due to snowfall and nighttime movement restrictions imposed in the border area.
"We contacted Project Beacon officials who assured us they would clear the road ahead of the ambulance, but the sub-divisional magistrate in Gurez did not allow us to move," family members alleged.
The family claimed Begum remained in severe pain throughout the night and that her baby died in the womb at the Gurez hospital around midnight.
The woman died while being shifted to District Hospital Bandipora in the morning.
"The woman was brought to the hospital around 8 am today and was declared dead on arrival," the doctors said.
The Gurez area observed complete shutdown today following the death of a pregnant woman and her stillborn baby.
The deaths have raised questions about the availability of medical staff and transport during emergencies in Gurez.
Residents have expressed concern over the difficulties faced by patients requiring urgent medical attention, particularly in winters when severe weather leads to disruption in connectivity to Gurez.
They demanded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death and the delay in obtaining administrative permission.
They have also demanded improvement in emergency healthcare and transportation arrangements for patients in the remote region.
