SRINAGAR: Director Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and Ex-Officio Secretary to Government (EOSG), Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, on Monday ordered immediate measures to restore normal functioning at SKIMS Medical College Hospital, Bemina, and directed the preparation of a long-term flood mitigation plan after heavy rainfall left the hospital premises waterlogged.
During an extensive inspection of the flood-affected hospital, Prof. Ganie reviewed the impact of the waterlogging on patient care and essential healthcare services. Expressing concern over the hardships faced by patients, attendants and healthcare workers, he instructed the hospital administration to ensure the earliest possible restoration of normal operations.
The Director directed the Principal of SKIMS Medical College and the Medical Superintendent to closely monitor the situation and take all necessary measures to minimise disruption to healthcare services.
He also instructed the Engineering Wing to deploy adequate dewatering pumps and mobilise all available manpower and resources to drain the accumulated water from the hospital premises on a priority basis.
Stressing that uninterrupted healthcare delivery remains the institution’s foremost responsibility, Prof. Ganie said the recurring problem of waterlogging at the flood-prone hospital campus required a permanent engineering solution rather than temporary arrangements adopted during every spell of heavy rainfall.
He directed the Principal of SKIMS Medical College to submit a comprehensive report within one week detailing the causes of the recurrent flooding, immediate remedial measures taken and recommendations for long-term mitigation.
To address the issue permanently, the Director announced the constitution of a high-level committee to prepare a sustainable flood mitigation plan for the hospital.
He said the committee’s recommendations would be forwarded to the higher authorities for implementation of permanent infrastructure measures aimed at protecting the hospital from future flooding and ensuring uninterrupted functioning during adverse weather conditions.
Prof. Ganie reiterated that maintaining uninterrupted patient care remained the highest priority for the institution and assured that every possible step would be taken to prevent the recurrence of such situations in the future.
The inspection comes after incessant rainfall and inclement weather led to waterlogging in several parts of the hospital campus, raising concerns over accessibility and the smooth functioning of medical services at one of Kashmir’s major tertiary healthcare institutions.
