Main entrances of valley hospitals remain choked by unregulated vendors, vehicles

The main entrances of several hospitals, especially tertiary care ones in Kashmir, including SMHS, SKIMS, LD, and Bone and Joint Hospital, have turned into virtual choke points, with unregulated vendors, e-rickshaws, auto rick shaws, and street food sellers, crowding the gates, causing massive traffic jams and severely hampering emergency movement.

- JAHANGEER GANAIE

Despite repeated complaints from patients, doctors, and hospital staff, no effective action has been taken by the authorities to regulate the chaos.

"The entire entrance of SMHS remains jam-packed throughout the day. E-rickshaws are parked in double lines, auto drivers solicit passengers loudly, and masala roti sellers block parts of the road. This is a hospital, not a market," Shazia Bano, a patient from Baramulla who visits SMHS regularly for treatment, said, speaking to the news agency.

Emergency vehicles often find it impossible to reach hospital gates without delays. Ambulance drivers say that even critical cases are forced to wait outside the gates for clearance.