AJAY SHARMA
Sunderbani, August 29: The Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Sunderbani, has become an unofficial parking lot, leading to significant chaos and inconvenience for patients, their families, and emergency services.
Reports indicate that the area in front of the hospital, designated for patient access and ambulances, has been occupied by parked cars for several days. Shockingly, many of these vehicles belong to individuals working or shopping at the nearby market, turning the hospital premises into a de facto parking space.
“Patients and their families are facing immense difficulties navigating through the congested area,” said eyewitnesses. On multiple occasions, ambulances have been delayed by up to 30 minutes, with drivers struggling to weave through the clutter of parked cars.
This congestion poses a critical risk to those in need of urgent medical care. A recent incident underscored the severity of the issue when a critically ill patient was stuck in the parking area, unable to access the hospital in time. Fortunately, Jammu and Kashmir Police officers on the scene managed to clear a path by moving cars individually, allowing the patient to be rushed inside for treatment. Witnesses noted that, without police intervention, the patient could have been stranded for hours, with potentially disastrous consequences.
Despite the growing crisis, the hospital administration remains largely unresponsive. Despite the issue persisting for several days, no decisive action has been taken to clear the parking area or prevent it from being used improperly. Alarmingly, it is alleged that the administration is even designating spaces within the hospital premises for parking, exacerbating the problem further.
Efforts to reach senior health officials, including the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Rajouri, for their comments but none were available.
Local authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner Rajouri and senior health officials, have been urged to intervene immediately to restore order. The misuse of hospital premises for parking is not only a glaring administrative failure but also endangers the health and safety of patients in need of critical care.
Urgent measures are needed to address this alarming situation before it leads to further complications or delays in emergency medical treatment.
