Woman delivers baby on snow-covered Kupwara road

Kupwara, Nov 24: A woman in the remote Chontiwari Payeen area of Machil, Kupwara, delivered a baby on a snow-covered road after heavy snowfall rendered the roads inaccessible, preventing her from reaching the hospital.

The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with locals accusing the administration of negligence.

In response, authorities have initiated an inquiry to determine the cause of the delays and lapses.

The residents blamed the administration for failing to clear even a few inches of snow, which left the roads impassable and cut off access to essential services.

“We had to carry the woman on foot for hours, but she delivered on the roadside,” said Munawar, a local. “The healthcare facilities here are non-functional. We have a health centre, but there are no doctors available.”

BMO Kalarose, Dr Nazir Ahmad said that the expecting mother had been advised to relocate to Kupwara town for better access to medical care.

“This woman had been staying in Kunan Poshpora, Kupwara, but due to domestic issues, she returned to Machil 10 days ago,” he said.

The ambulance, upon receiving the call, reached the location and transported the patient to the Public Health Centre, Duddi, by 10:20 am. The patient received the necessary medical treatment and is now admitted to PHC Duddi. Both the mother and the baby are in a stable condition,” he said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kupwara, Muhammad Rouf Rehmani said clearing the Kupwara-Machil road of snow was the priority as the road serves a larger population.

“Major roads have been cleared and efforts are on to restore full connectivity,” he said.

The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) has taken cognisance of the incident and ordered an inquiry under Order No 31/PS of 2024.

A four-member committee led by Deputy Director (Dentistry) at DHSK, Dr Jehanzaib Tanki has been tasked with investigating the emergency response and submitting its findings within two days.

The committee would assess the circumstances surrounding the incident and recommend action against those found responsible for lapses.