Working tirelessly for last seven days the local youth here have joined hands and formed a voluntary group, providing succour to the injured and their attendants.
Even other patients admitted in Anantnag (Islamabad) hospitals and their attendants are also being taken care of despite strict curfew and restrictions in place in the town.
Around 150 civilians who sustained injuries in security forces’ action have been treated at District Hospital Anantnag with 130 among them reported in first two days only after the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani last Friday.
“As the injuries started pouring in, the local youth – braving curfew, restrictions, tear gas shells, pepper gas, pellets and even bullets – geared themselves up to provide required assistance including medicine and food at District Hospital Anantnag,” a local resident said.
A camp was instantly set up under the banner of Youth of Islamabad in the compound of District Hospital.
Apart from food and other basic amenities people particularly the attendants are given free medicine besides arranging blood to the needy at the camp.
Around 100 youth are distributing water bottles and eatables on a large scale in the hospital.
During first two days when the injuries were on higher side locals were seen ferrying patients to emergency and different wards.
Langars have been established in the compound of the hospital to prepare food for the attendants of injured patients.
Most of the volunteers don’t even sleep and spend their nights in the hospital giving turns.
The volunteers are also providing food, water and medicines to the patients and attendants admitted in Maternity and Children Care Hospital (MCH), Sherbagh too.
The volunteers refused to have their names highlighted in newspapers or have their pictures clicked saying they are not doing it for publicity.
“It is our moral and religious obligation and we are not doing it for publicity,” said the volunteers from Kadipora, Bakhshiabad, Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk, Reeshi Bazar, Mattan Adda and Janglat Mandi areas of old town wishing anonymity.
They said they are also identifying the families who live hand to mouth and are providing them food packets.
“Our volunteers were even roughed up and beaten to pulp by police and CRPF men at various places, but they can’t break our resolve to help our brethren in these tough times,” said one of the volunteers.
The patients and attendants are all thankful to the youth.
“We are really indebted to these people who helped us in tough times and arranged everything for us from food to medicines to even blood,” said one of the attendants of patients from Kokernag area.
The hospital administration is also all praise for the local youth.
“It was a crisis like situation particularly during first two days – on Saturday and Sunday – when the number of injured was huge and these young people managed it well and made our job easier,” said Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag, Dr Fazil Ali Kochak.
His opinion was seconded by Medical Superintendent (MS) District Hospital, Dr Majeed Mehrab.
Braving Curfew, Firing, Anantnag youth join hands to provide succour to injured
