Violence erupts at GMC Anantnag after patient's death, four arrested
Women Died
Anantnag: Allegations of medical negligence have surfaced at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag following the death of a 55-year-old woman from Srigufwara on Friday, triggering protests that reportedly turned violent, leaving hospital staff injured and property damaged.
According to reports, the woman was initially taken to a nearby health centre after her condition deteriorated and was subsequently referred to Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, for advanced care, reports GreaterKashmir. Her family alleged that despite repeated requests, she was not examined by a cardiologist in time.
“Doctors at the local facility had assured us that a cardiologist would attend to her at GMC Anantnag, but despite our repeated pleas, no such consultation was arranged promptly,” a family member said, adding that timely intervention might have saved her life.
Officials said four individuals have been arrested so far, while efforts are ongoing to identify others involved in the violence.
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Following her death, relatives, along with locals, staged a protest within the hospital premises. The situation quickly escalated, with some individuals allegedly resorting to vandalism and assaulting on-duty medical staff, leaving several healthcare workers injured.
Hospital authorities confirmed the incident, stating that a group created chaos inside the facility, leading to both infrastructural damage and harm to staff members. Police subsequently registered an FIR (No. 118) and initiated an investigation into the matter.
The investigation will also examine the sequence of events that triggered the unrest.
Meanwhile, Principal Dr Rukhsana Najeeb strongly condemned the attack on medical personnel and the destruction of public property. She said an internal inquiry committee was constituted immediately after the allegations surfaced, adding that preliminary findings have not indicated any medical negligence.
AIMSA Vice President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan denounced the incident, stressing that attacks on medical professionals cannot be justified under any circumstances, reports ABP Live. He called on the administration to prioritise the protection of healthcare workers and ensure that those responsible are dealt with firmly.
He added that doctors operating in high-stress emergency environments should be backed and respected, not subjected to aggression, and underscored the need for stronger security systems in hospitals to prevent such occurrences.
