Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 23: Patients at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) in Sopore today alleged that only two ambulances are currently functional at the facility, raising serious concerns about its ability to respond to medical emergencies.
Locals maintain that out of the six ambulances allotted to the hospital, only two are in working condition while the rest remain non-functional. They argue that this shortage is disrupting emergency services in the area. The hospital caters to patients not only from Sopore but also from neighboring areas such as Handwara, Kupwara, Bandipora, and the Kandi Belt.
“It is a good hospital, mashallah, and serves thousands, but emergency services are badly hit. In such a populated area, just two ambulances are not enough,” a local resident said.
Residents are calling on the authorities to intervene immediately and restore full ambulance services to avoid putting patient lives at risk.
However, hospital authorities have refuted the claims, saying that five ambulances, including a 108 emergency vehicle, are fully operational. Block Medical Officer Dr. Zulfikar Nabi dismissed the allegations, stating that five ambulances are currently functional. “Only one vehicle required minor repairs, which have now been completed. There is no impact on patient care or hospital operations,” he said.
Meanwhile, MLA Sopore Irshad Ahmad Kar said the hospital is set to receive several upgrades, including a new anesthesia machine, a new ambulance, and another 108 emergency vehicles. “Repair and restoration work on the existing ambulances is also underway. All these facilities are expected to be fully operational within the week, aimed at enhancing healthcare services in the Sopore constituency,” he added.
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