Fortnight after snowfall, locals ferry patient for 5kms on stretcher to hospital in Handwara

Kupwara: Braving bone chilling cold, people in Hangnikoot village of Villgam Handwara on Thursday morning carried a woman patient on a stretcher to a hospital, some five kilometers from her residence.

A woman (28) developed some pregnancy related complications in the morning after which her husband, Farooq Ahmad Teedwa, sought help from neighbours and relatives, locals said.

The woman was wrapped in a blanket and put on a stretcher. Later, men ferried her on shoulders and walked five kilometers to a health-centre in Taratpora.

The road though passable remains snow-bound as authorities failed to remove snow. Most of the villages in higher reaches of Ramhall and villgam. Mawer, and Rajwar Handwara are still cut off as most of the roads are awaiting snow clearance. (GNS)