C-section surge turns alarming in Kashmir

By Abid Bashir
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11 Apr 2026

Over 70% deliveries at Lal Ded Hospital surgical Doctors cite pressure, convenience, rising impatience Experts call trend ‘epidemic’, urge return to normal births Total deliveries (2026): 20,525 C-Section deliveries: 14,000 (70%) Normal deliveries: 6,000 (30%) C-Section trend over the years: 2025: 69% 2024: 70% 2023: 68%

Srinagar, April 10: A sharp and sustained rise in caesarean section (C-section) deliveries in Kashmir has set off alarm bells among medical experts, with doctors at Lal Ded Hospital—the Valley’s premier maternity care centre—warning that the trend is fast turning into a public health concern.

Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said changing social behaviour and preferences are playing a key role in the growing inclination towards surgical deliveries. “Of late, our mothers and sisters have a decreased level of patience compared to the past. We are pressurised for C-section deliveries because it is painless and involves a very short stay in the hospital,” he said.

He revealed that in 2026, the hospital recorded 20,525 deliveries, of which nearly 14,000—around 70 per cent—were conducted through C-section, while only about 6,000 were normal deliveries. The figures reflect a consistent pattern over the years, with 69 per cent C-sections reported last year, 70 per cent the year before, and 68 percent before that.

Despite the high numbers, Dr Ahmad said the hospital follows a careful and medically guided approach before opting for surgery. “In our hospital, we assess the patient through USG and other tests, and we try our best for normal deliveries. Normal deliveries have so many benefits. The patient stabilises soon after delivery, and there are clear medical advantages,” he said. He added that as a tertiary care hospital, LD receives a bulk of high-risk cases, which also contributes to the higher rate of surgical interventions.

Commenting on the private healthcare sector, Dr Ahmad said practical constraints often push private hospitals towards more C-sections. “As far as the private sector is concerned, they are bound to do more C-section deliveries as they have to earn money. They cannot keep a doctor available continuously to follow the patient, which is not possible for them,” he said.

Dr Sameena Basu from the LD hospital administration termed the situation deeply concerning. “C-section has become an epidemic in Kashmir. Normal birth is a natural process, and through unnecessary C-sections, we are playing with nature,” she said.

She emphasised that normal deliveries offer significant health benefits for both mother and child. “Through normal deliveries, both the baby and mother have medical benefits. C-section can cause medical issues and complications,” she said, urging expecting mothers to reconsider their preferences.

“We urge expecting mothers to give themselves a chance for normal deliveries. At LD, we are trying our best to ensure normal labour wherever possible,” she added.

Dr Basu also stressed the role of family awareness in reversing the trend. “Mothers should counsel their daughters and explain to them the benefits of normal deliveries,” she said.

As the numbers continue to rise, doctors warn that while C-sections remain a critical and often life-saving procedure in complicated cases, their increasing use due to convenience and perception could have long-term implications for maternal and child health in the region.