Patients await air assistance in snowbound Kishtwar villages

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb  22: Over a dozen patients from snow-bound Inshan and Marwan villages of Kishtwar district who are in need of immediate medical attention are waiting for State Government’s helicopter services from last ten day but the Government’s failure to render services are worsening the condition of these patients.
Tucked away deep into the mountains, nearly 20,000 souls reside in these twin villages. The locals of the twin mountainous villages lamented that the patients who need immediate medical attention were left at God’s mercy by delaying delivery of services.
They said over a dozen of patients including a 70-year old man and an expectant mother was making frequent visits to the helipad but to no avail. “As the whole area is draped in a thick blanket of snow there is no other option but to airlift the needy patients. Everyday the patients wait near helipad with a hope to get the assistance but comes back without any success,” Javeed Ahmad, a local, said.
He also said that in a public meeting that was held before the onset of winter, the authorities had assured them the assistance of helicopter services during the period of harsh winter when the whole area remains cut off from rest of the world. He, however, alleged that authorities have failed to deliver on their promises.
Deputy Commissioner Kishatwar, Gh Nabi Balwan, admitted that there was delay in delivering the services this time as the helicopter services were not available. “We initially had problems in getting the helicopters but that has been solved now and the patients will be airlifted shortly,” he claimed.
The DC, however, blamed some locals for misusing the services by exaggerating their illness. “Some people exaggerate their illness and get vanished after landing thereby leaving the serious ones behind and affecting the effective delivery of services,” he claimed.

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