J&K augments ambulance service amid cross-border tension

Srinagar, May 08: Amid tensions between India and Pakistan, the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department has augmented ambulance services across rural and border areas.
The move aims to ensure preparedness for any medical emergencies that may arise due to the current situation and to provide immediate referrals for the affected population.
According to the latest Health Department data, available on May 7, 2025, the Jammu Province has witnessed an increase in ambulance availability across its five districts. Jammu district, which already had 53 ambulances, received 6 more, raising the total to 59.
The data said Kathua saw its total rise from 37 to 39 with 2 new ambulances. In Rajouri, 4 new ambulances were added to the existing fleet of 58, taking the total to 62. Poonch district, with 48 ambulances, is expecting 4 more that have been deployed by the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu.
Samba district saw a modest increase from 18 to 20 with 2 additional ambulances. The total number of ambulances in Jammu Province now stands at 232, with 18 newly augmented units.
In Kashmir Province, Baramulla district, which includes the subdivisions of Uri and Boniyar, recorded a substantial increase. As per the figures, Baramulla itself had 64 ambulances and received 10 more, bringing the total to 74.
Uri’s ambulance count rose from 5 to 11 with the addition of 6 and Boniyar now has 6 ambulances, up from 4. Bandipora district’s main area had 34 ambulances, and 5 more have been added, raising the total to 39. Gurez subdivision had 9 ambulances, and one more has been added, increasing its count to 10.
The main Kupwara area now has 57 ambulances, up from 49, with 8 new ones. Kalaroos (Machil) maintained its count at 4, with 2 ambulances added to the existing 2.
Karalpora (Keran) now has 5 ambulances, having received 2 more. Karalpora (Budnamal) received 1 ambulance to its earlier total of 2, making it 3. Tangdhar saw an increase from 6 to 8, while Trehgam (Jumagund) has 4 ambulances now, up from 3.
Overall, Kashmir Province saw an augmentation of 40 ambulances, increasing the total from 178 to 218. In Jammu Province, the number of ambulances rose from 214 to 232.
The combined total for Jammu and Kashmir as per the government figures now stands at 450 ambulances, with 58 having been added in just one day to support emergency response systems in this time of heightened alert.
The J&K Health Department is fully prepared to respond to any emergency, with sufficient stocks of medicines and supplies available across hospitals and medical colleges in the Union Territory.
Officials confirmed that adequate provisions of medicines, medical supplies, and essential equipment have been ensured, including in rural and border-area hospitals.
Additionally, control rooms have been established in all major hospitals and healthcare facilities to enhance coordination and patient care during any crisis.
Health officials said tertiary care institutions, including medical colleges across Jammu and Kashmir, have also been further augmented in light of the prevailing situation.