Years on, Bijbehara Trauma hospital remains defunct: Locals
Residents decry official apathy, say patients have to be rushed to distant hospitals
Anantnag: Years after its construction, the trauma hospital at Bijbehara continues to remain largely non-functional, sparking growing resentment and anger among local residents who say the facility has failed to serve its very purpose.
The hospital, strategically built along the busy National Highway to cater to accident victims and medical emergencies, has not been upgraded into a full-fledged trauma care centre till date. As a result, people are forced to rush patients to distant hospitals, often losing precious time that can mean the difference between life and death.
Locals allege that the hospital lacks even basic emergency infrastructure. “This hospital was meant to save lives, especially during road accidents, but today it is only a building without services,” said a resident of Bijbehara. “In emergencies, we have no option but to travel to Anantnag or Srinagar.”
At present, only an eye specialist and an AYUSH unit are functioning from the hospital premises, leaving emergency and trauma care services virtually non-existent.
Residents also complain of frequent power outages, which further disrupt medical services. “Many patients return home without proper consultation because there is no electricity and no doctors available,” another local said.
The situation is worsened by a chronic shortage of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff. According to locals, the absence of round-the-clock medical personnel has rendered the hospital ineffective.
“A trauma hospital without doctors is meaningless. Accidents don’t happen according to office hours,” said an elderly resident.
Locals said that the delay in making this institution is unjustified and the government must be held accountable for neglecting such a critical healthcare institution. “This hospital was built with public money to serve the people, especially accident victims on the highway. Keeping it non-operational for years is a grave injustice to the residents of Bijbehara and adjoining areas,” they said
The residents pointed out that roads around the hospital were dug up under a so-called beautification project, but the work has remained incomplete for months. The damaged and uneven roads have made access to the hospital difficult and risky. “Patients, ambulances, and even pedestrians face immense trouble due to the broken roads. It has become a safety hazard,” locals alleged.
Residents have demanded immediate intervention from the authorities to upgrade the Bijbehara Trauma Hospital into a fully operational emergency facility.
They are calling for round-the-clock services, uninterrupted power supply, deployment of adequate medical and paramedical staff, and the installation of modern trauma care equipment.
The people of Bijbehara have urged the administration to act without further delay, warning that continued inaction will only deepen public anger and mistrust.
