Srinagar, Dec 28: Amid heavy snowfall in Kashmir, J&K Police on Saturday stepped in to help stranded passengers and evacuate patients in need, providing much-needed support during the current harsh weather conditions.
A police spokesman said that special teams of police in Srinagar were deployed across the Srinagar city to assist the patients, tourists and vehicles. Many distress calls were received during the day and it was promptly responded by the authorities, he said.
Due to heavy snowfall in south Kashmir, police teams were deployed, in Anantnag, a distress call was received by Police reporting that a vehicle carrying four tourists traveling from the National Highway via Dalwach to Dooru had gotten stuck in the heavy snow leaving the passengers stranded in extreme weather conditions.
He said a police team of Police Station Dooru rushed and rescued all four tourists and safely evacuated them to a secure location. Moreover, police facilitated the emergency evacuation of a female patient from Bragam Dooru to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Dooru in a police vehicle.
“The patient, who had recently undergone surgery, experienced severe pain and required immediate medical attention. Upon receiving the distress call, police acted swiftly, arranging transportation and ensuring the patient was safely shifted to the hospital without delay,” he said.
The spokesman said that in Budgam police rescued tourists stranded in Doodhpathri and helped patients, commuters and tourists who were stuck on roads at different places across the district especially in far flung areas.
“In another incident early this morning, two women in need of emergency medical attention were rescued near Turkawagan Bridge. Braving adverse weather conditions, police transported the patients to District Hospital Pulwama, where they received medical treatment,” he added.
The spokesman said in Ganderbal, Police extended assistance to tourists, commuters and patients stranded in the snow at various locations across the district. SSP Ganderbal Ragav S, along with SHO Kangan Manzoor Ahmad, overseeing snow clearance operations in Subdivision Kangan and assessing road conditions to ensure public safety and smooth connectivity.
“In Awantipora, police received a distress call from Shahabad Awantipora, in which the caller requested that one lady is in dire need of medical treatment to save her life. Acting swiftly, a special team led by SHO Police Station Awantipora rushed to the spot along with his vehicle and evacuated the said patient to SDH Tral for treatment,” he said.
Similarly in Kulgam, police received a distress call from Adigam, Devsar in which the caller reported that an ailing person (cardiac patient) namely Nawaz Ahmad Mallah son of Ghulam Nabi Mallah resident of Adigam Devsar had suffered a heart attack and is in dire need of medical treatment.
However, the family members were unable to shift the patient to the hospital on their own due to incessant snowfall and slippery road, making access impossible through conventional means.
“Acting swiftly, a special team led by SHO police station Devsar rushed to the spot and evacuated the said cardiac patient to hospital for treatment,” he added.
The spokesman said in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Police launched extensive emergency assistance operations across the district following heavy snowfall including rescuing stranded vehicles, providing mechanical assistance, and helping install snow chains.
He said the operations included rescuing stranded vehicles, providing mechanical assistance, and helping install snow chains. Emergency help desks were established at key locations, offering shelter and transportation assistance to tourists, the spokesman added.
