Bandipora, October 14 (JKNS): A pregnant woman from Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district died on Wednesday, while her baby was stillborn, with the family alleging that snowfall, movement restrictions and delays in shifting her to a higher medical facility contributed to the tragedy.
The deceased has been identified as Haseen Bagem, wife of Showket Hameed Lone and a resident of Mazgund village in Tulail, as per news agency JKNS.
According to the family, she was taken to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Gurez late Tuesday evening after they allegedly found no medical staff available at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Sheikhpora.
The family said doctors at SDH Gurez informed them that the woman had low blood levels and advised her transfer to District Hospital Bandipora for further treatment.
However, they alleged that snowfall and movement restrictions prevented them from proceeding towards Bandipora.
“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, 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 claimed that the woman remained in pain throughout the night and that the baby died in the womb before delivery at SDH Gurez around midnight.
A doctor at the hospital said the woman was brought to the facility around 8 am on Wednesday and was declared brought dead.
The family also raised questions over 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.
The allegations regarding the availability of medical staff, movement restrictions and road clearance could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report. (JKNS)