Anantnag, Aug 11: A fresh wave of outrage has swept South Kashmir’s Anantnag district after a viral video surfaced on social media, alleging medical negligence at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag that led to the death of a man — father of two young children. This is the second such allegation of grave medical misconduct reported from the same hospital in last week.
The deceased, identified as Rafiq Ahmed Raina, son of Ghulam Qadir and resident of Laripora Pahalgam, was admitted to GMC Anantnag on August 8 after complaining of pain. According to his family, Rafiq was responding well to treatment until an injection administered on August 11 allegedly worsened his condition, leading to his death on the hospital bed.
The viral video, widely circulated on social networking platforms, shows one of the bereaved family members alleging that the attending doctor, after injecting Rafiq, abruptly left the hospital premises through a backdoor exit. The family further claims they were prevented from meeting the doctor, and the cause of death was deliberately concealed.
Speaking to the news agency, Kashmir News Trust, the deceased’s cousin, Faizan Raina, questioned the circumstances under which the injection was administered. “We do not know who recommended the injection, who actually injected him, and whether the person was a qualified doctor or just a student. All we know is that his condition deteriorated immediately after the injection,” he said.
Earlier, another family from Adhal Kokernag had accused paramedical staff at the same hospital of negligence and arrogance, claiming it caused the death of their two-year-old daughter. The two back-to-back incidents have intensified public anger and raised serious concerns about patient safety protocols at GMC Anantnag.
When contacted for comment, Medical Superintendent Dr Arshid said he was “extremely busy” and could not speak on the matter at present.
Despite their grief, the family of the deceased expressed gratitude towards the Chief Medical Officer and the Divisional Officer of Janglat Mandi Police Chowki for their swift response. They assured that the matter will be thoroughly probed and those responsible will face strict action.
Hospital authorities confirmed that a formal inquiry has been initiated to ascertain the facts surrounding Rafiq’s death. Family of the deceased has called for an impartial investigation, demanding that accountability be fixed without delay to restore public faith in the healthcare system. [KNT]
