Medicines, surgery material airlifted to Kashmir

NEW DELHI - Essential medicines were Friday flown to strife-torn Kashmir valley following a shortage, health ministry officials said here.

Medicines and surgical disposables worth Rs.8.5 lakh were airlifted Friday morning to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar where many of the injured are undergoing treatment.

The step was taken following directions from Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who had met the director of the hospital during his visit Wednesday to Srinagar and Leh, which was devastated by flash floods caused by sudden cloud burst.

According to health officials, many people injured in the clashes between security forces are being treated in this government-run hospital and it urgently needed medicines and surgery-related material. Since June 11, 55 people have died in the valley in police firings.

The director had requested for essential drugs as they were facing shortage in the Kashmir Valley, they said.

Azad, a former chief minister of the state, also directed his officials to provide, if necessary, additional medicines and life saving drugs to the state government and the government hospital.