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| A pregnant woman dies in Neelum Valley. |
In the upper region of the Neelum Valley, Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir, a pregnant woman tragically lost her life due to the lack of adequate healthcare facilities and poor infrastructure. The incident occurred on January 11, 2025, when the woman, who was in labor, was being rushed to a hospital across a snow-covered road. Her death has raised serious concerns about the state of healthcare services in remote areas of the region, especially during the harsh winter months.
The Incident:
Bashir Ahmad, a resident of the village Halmat in Union Council Grais, described the dire situation faced by his family when his brother Abbas's wife, a 40-year-old pregnant woman, passed away. "Our pregnant women are dying on the roads, we are trapped in a kind of prison," Bashir said, referring to the treacherous conditions in the region. Abbas's wife died on the way to the hospital, as there were no healthcare workers available at the local health facility that day.
Abbas expressed his grief to Ki News, saying, "I don't blame anyone for my wife's death, it was God's will, but I urge the government to provide healthcare facilities here so that no other pregnant woman has to die like my wife did."
Challenges of Healthcare Access:
Bashir Ahmad explained that the local health facility in Halmat was empty that day, forcing the family to take the woman to an army medical center nearby. Unfortunately, she passed away at around 8 AM on the way. The road was covered in less than a foot of snow, and the family had been unable to travel by vehicle due to the road's closure for over two weeks. "If the road had been open, we could have taken her to the hospital by car," Bashir added. The government had finally sent a machine to clear the road after the tragic incident.
The Struggles of Remote Communities:
Grais Valley is one of the most remote and underdeveloped areas of Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir. During winter, its residents face enormous challenges due to the closure of roads, which make it difficult to access healthcare and other essential services. Although 70% of the region’s road has been paved, the rest remains inaccessible during the colder months, exacerbating the hardships faced by the locals.
In the summer,
Grais Valley attracts thousands of tourists due to its breathtaking
beauty, but in winter, the people of the area must endure the harsh
conditions, with the absence of basic amenities and services putting
their lives at risk.
The tragic death of a pregnant woman in Grais Valley underscores the urgent need for better healthcare infrastructure and services in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir's remote regions. As residents continue to face life-threatening challenges during the winter months, it is crucial for both local and national authorities to prioritize improving healthcare facilities, transportation, and accessibility to prevent further tragedies.
The situation in Grais Valley calls for a collective effort from both the government and humanitarian organizations to ensure that essential services are available to all, regardless of their location. Only through sustained investment in infrastructure and healthcare can the people of Neelum Valley hope to overcome the harsh realities they face.
