Gopal Sharma
RAJOURI, Oct 29: The killing of a minor school girl in a tragic road accident and non-availability of ambulance for shifting the injured to Rajouri district hospital, evoked strong protest and bandh at Kotranka today.
The mishap took place at around 9.30 am today at Kotranka. Three to four girls were moving to their school along the road in the morning. A rashly driven Tempo Traveler bearing registration No. JK-11A/2990 hit one of the girls, resulting into serious injuries to her.
While the driver who was identified by many people of the area managed to escape along with Tempo the girl was removed to local Kotranka hospital by the residents of the area and her friends moving along with her. They identified the driver as Mohd Qayoom, son of vehicle owner Mohd Bashir, of the same area. Actually the driver is Abdul Razak but owner’s son was driving the vehicle at the time of accident, the local eye-witnesses claimed.
Seriously injured accident victim, Shabnam Akhtar (14), daughter of Karamat Hussain, resident of Jaglanu near Kotranka was provided immediate treatment by Dr Ashraf and Dr Aijaz. But they referred the girl to District Hospital, Rajouri. After knowing about the accident, many students of Govt Higher Secondary School rushed to hospital. The students and other locals started protest as the vehicle driver managed to escape after accident and police failed to nab immediately. Again out of three ambulances sanctioned in this hospital not even single was available at the hospital for shifting the accident victim.
BMO Dr Mohd Bashir was not available while the other staff members told the relatives of the accident victim that ambulances were not available and they were asked to contact BMO, who was not present there. The students and relatives besides other locals assembled in large number turned agitated. They started protest demonstration and raising slogans against BMO, CMO Rajouri, Director Health Services Jammu and Minister incharge Health.
Sensing trouble, Tehsildar and SHO Kotranka reached there. It was told that one ambulance had gone to Rajouri for official work and other one for bringing medicines to Jammu. Tehsildar sought attendance register but that too, was not provided by staff who told that it was under lock.
Tehsildar Kotranka then contacted Deputy Commissioner Rajouri F C Bhagat and briefed him about the matter. He took serious note of it and issued directions to CMO to set the things right at Kotranka hospital. The girl after delay of nearly an hour was the shifted to Rajouri hospital in a private vehicle. But she succumbed to injuries on the way and was declared dead at Rajouri hospital.
When the report of girl’s death reached Kotranka, the students of Higher Secondary School boycotted classes and closed other schools as well. She was student of Class 9th of Govt Higher Secondary School Kotranka. They blocked road and started massive protest demonstration. They also thronged hospital. The local administration sensing trouble at hospital rushed additional police men there. The students also closed the market and started protest against Health Department. They also raised slogans against District Administration and police and demanded immediate arrest of driver.
With the intervention of DC and Minister in-charge Health Shabir Khan who was also in Rajouri town today, some senior officers including SDPO and BMO rushed there. They persuaded the agitating students and others. On the assurance of police officer, the people then suspended protest at around 3 pm. The girl’s body also reached there by that time and a large number of students and locals attended last rites of the accident victim. The police registered a case and started search for the driver who was evading arrest.
It may be recalled that yesterday an unidentified male body was recovered from Kotranka area. The body had to be shifted to District Hospital Rajouri but no ambulance was available. The body was later shifted in a truck. The locals alleged that ambulance is hardly provided to the public, it is often used by hospital staff for personal use. When it is needed for shifting patients, the hospital staff and officers claim it was out of order or had gone to Jammu for bringing medicines or driver was not available. They have sought the intervention of Director Health and CMO in this regard.
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