Inquiry ordered as woman delivers baby on snow-covered road in Machil

4 members committee to conduct in-depth inquiry

SRINAGAR: An inquiry has been ordered by the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir after a woman gave birth in the remote Machil area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on a snow-covered road in ChontiwariPayeen.
It is being alleged the woman delivered the baby after being unable to reach the hospital due to uncleared roads post snowfall.
The locals blamed the incident on administrative inefficiency, stating that despite light snowfall, the roads remained blocked, making it impossible to access medical facilities.
“How can a few inches of snow paralyze the entire area? It shows the administration’s apathy towards remote villages,” said a resident of ChontiwariPayeen, emphasizing the recurring neglect of basic services.
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage and drawing sharp criticism from netizens. Many users expressed anger over the administration’s failure to ensure basic amenities in remote areas.
“This is unacceptable in today’s age. How can people be left stranded like this?” one user commented. Another called the incident “a glaring example of neglect”, urging authorities to take immediate action to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The video shows locals struggling to navigate snow-covered roads, with one person lamenting, “We are being treated like second-class citizens. Where is the promised development?”
Meanwhile the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) has taken serious note of the incident where a woman was forced to give birth on a snow-covered road in Chontiwari, Machil, Kupwara district. The incident, which came to light through social media, has triggered widespread criticism of the region’s emergency response and healthcare infrastructure.
In an official order issued the DHSK constituted a four-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter. The committee, led by Dr.Jehanzeb Tanki, Deputy Director (Dentistry), includes Dr. Yasmeen Kangoo, Assistant Director DHSK, Dr. Arjumand Bashir, DNO DHSK, and Mr. Aijaz Hussain Bhat, PMA DHSK.
The committee has been tasked with conducting an in-depth investigation and submitting a detailed report within two days. The findings are expected to outline the causes of the failure and recommend measures to address the lapses. The DHSK has assured that action will be taken against those found responsible, as per the law.