Srinagar: Anger gripped Pulwama town on Monday evening following the death of Farooq Jamal Rather, a resident of Shith Parrypora in Lassipora area of Pulwama, who breathed his last at SMHS Hospital Srinagar after initial treatment at District Hospital Pulwama.
This is the second such incident within ten days that has put the District Hospital under sharp public scrutiny.
Family members and relatives told KNO that Farooq was suffering from severe abdominal pain and was admitted to the district hospital. After receiving initial treatment, which his family termed as ‘inadequate’, he was discharged. However, his health reportedly worsened at home, prompting his family to shift him to SMHS Srinagar, where he later died, they said.
Relatives alleged that the injections administered at Pulwama Hospital triggered a severe reaction, eventually leading to his death. They alleged that ambulance wasn’t available for half an hour at District Hospital Pulwama when patient was supposed to be shifted to Srinagar.
The incident triggered protests, with agitated locals gathering outside the hospital premises, demanding accountability and an impartial investigation into the matter.
Medical Superintendent Dr. Abdul Gani, however, responded to the allegations, rejecting claims of negligence. He said that the patient was attended by Doctor in the OPD, who had advised a series of injections to be given in the casualty ward. “The patient collapsed soon after receiving the injections, but our team promptly revived and stabilized him before referring him to SMHS,” Dr. Gani said.
He also denied any lapse in ambulance services or delay in the referral process, emphasizing that the patient was sent to Srinagar in stable condition. “The unfortunate death occurred later and the allegations being levelled are baseless,” he said.
Meanwhile, calls for accountability are growing louder with locals urging the authorities to review the hospital’s functioning and ensure such incidents are not repeated.
Meanwhile, MLA Pulwama Waheed Ur Rehman said that this hospital was once state of the art facility but now suffers from negligence, defunct machinery and government apathy.
“Within a week, a second death has been reported at Pulwama Hospital due to mismanagement and doctors’ negligence. Once a state-of-the-art facility, it now suffers from negligence, defunct machinery, and government apathy. FYI @OmarAbdullah @CM_JnK @sakinaitoo @SyedAbidShah.” Para said in a post on X. (KNO)
