The sight of crowded hospital entrances in Kashmir, blocked by haphazardly parked e-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and roadside vendors, is a public health hazard. When a patient suffering a cardiac arrest, a pregnant woman in labour, or a victim of a serious accident cannot reach the emergency ward because the hospital gate resembles a bustling marketplace, the system has failed. The complaints from patients, doctors, and ambulance drivers are not exaggerated. They are a grim reflection of a daily reality where precious minutes are lost in clearing the way for ambulances and emergency vehicles. In medical emergencies, every second counts. A delay of even a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Yet, at hospitals like SMHS, SKIMS Soura, Lal Ded, and Bone and Joint Hospital, these delays have become routine. The problem is not the presence of vendors or transport operators per se. They are earning their livelihoods, and their right to do so is not in question. What is unacceptable is the absence of regulation. When e-rickshaws are parked in multiple rows and vendors occupy portions of the road, the entrance ceases to be a healthcare access point and becomes an obstacle course. For patients already in pain or distress, navigating this chaos adds to their suffering. The authorities – both civic and traffic – have been aware of this issue for years. Health officials admit they have written repeatedly to the concerned departments. Yet, little has changed. This inertia is inexcusable. The administration must act now with clear and enforceable measures. Hospital entrances must be declared strict no-vending and no-parking zones. Designated parking spaces for public transport must be created away from the gates. Dedicated corridors for ambulances and emergency vehicles must be ensured and strictly enforced. This is about prioritising patient safety and emergency access. Hospitals are places of healing, not marketplaces. Their entrances must remain free, accessible, and safe at all times. The authorities must enforce the rules, and the public must cooperate. Lives depend on it. There is no room for delay.
The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has begun, as it often does, with uproar. Placards were raised, slogans were shouted, and the well of the House was stormed....
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