Srinagar, Nov 13: A case of alleged medical negligence at SKIMS Soura has sparked outrage after a Srinagar couple accused doctors and staff of apathy leading to the death of their one-year-old son on October 18, 2025.
The incident detailed in a Facebook post by the child’s mother, Sumaira, has drawn widespread attention and prompted SKIMS authorities to issue a clarification that the investigation in this regard is at a final stage.
According to Sumaira’s account, the ordeal began on Friday, October 17, when her son, Ahmad Nayeem, developed fever, vomiting, and flu-like symptoms. After struggling to find a paediatrician in the morning, the family visited Noora Hospital upon learning that paediatrician Dr Tanveer Bashir was available. However, upon reaching the hospital around noon, they reportedly waited for hours before the doctor arrived around 2:45 pm.
“The doctor didn’t check my baby physically; not even his chest, fever, or basic vitals,” the mother alleged. “He wrote a prescription without examining him, even when I mentioned that my child seemed dehydrated.”
Later that night, as Ahmad’s condition worsened, the family rushed him to SKIMS Soura Emergency Department. There, Sumaira said, they faced an “unresponsive and negligent attitude” from the on-duty medical staff.
“When we entered the paediatric ER, there was only one doctor, identified as Dr Tahir, and no nurse was present,” she wrote. “The nurse appeared after 15 minutes and pricked my baby eight times before successfully drawing blood. Throughout the night, the doctor and nurse were sleeping in the ER, and we had to wake them up multiple times as our baby’s condition deteriorated.”
The mother alleged that despite repeated pleas, her son was neither examined properly nor admitted promptly. “When his lips turned blue and his oxygen dropped to 64, we begged them to check him, but they dismissed it, saying the machine wasn’t working,” she wrote. “It was only after I raised my voice that the doctor finally came to see him. By then, it was too late.”
According to the family, Ahmad was shifted to the NICU in critical condition, where doctors declared him dead shortly after 10 a.m. on October 18.
“We walked out of the NICU in silence, not wanting to disturb other patients,” Sumaira wrote. “But we have received no call or assurance from the authorities or the doctors’ association since then. We are still waiting for justice.”
Sumaira, along with her family, has demanded a proper investigation in this regard and action against the involved doctors.
Following the viral post, FAIMA Doctors Association, led by Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, called for a thorough and impartial probe, urging the Director of SKIMS to take urgent action “if any negligence is found”.
In response, SKIMS Medical Superintendent issued a statement confirming that the institution had received a formal complaint from the bereaved parents on October 18. “Following the complaint, SKIMS constituted a committee to examine the matter in detail. The Head of the concerned Department has already attached the involved doctors with the Convenor of the Committee on the very same day as an interim measure,” the statement read.
“The committee is in the final stages of its inquiry and is awaiting the parents’ version to ensure a fair, transparent, and comprehensive investigation,” it added. “The SKIMS administration assures that justice will be delivered, and strict action will be taken if anyone is found guilty. There is zero tolerance for any casual or negligent approach by doctors, nurses, or paramedical staff while dealing with patients.”
The incident has reignited debate about medical accountability and patient care standards in major healthcare institutions in Kashmir.
Locals and social media users have expressed solidarity with the bereaved family, demanding a time-bound inquiry and stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future—(KNO)
