Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Mar 17 (KINS): In absence of the overhead footbridge and zebra crossing, patients and their attendants at New Children Hospital Bemina, an associated hospital of GMC Srinagar, are continuously risking their lives to cross the busy bypass road.
“Road crossing is really dangerous here,” says a father who had to cross the road while his ill son aged 5-years was in his lap.
Notably last week two persons died after being hit by an ambulance vehicle near this hospital at Bemina Srinagar.
“How many more fatalities have to happen,” the local asked.
They said that fast-moving vehicular traffic and poor road signage are adding to the woes of visitors here.
A regular visitor to this hospital told news agency KINS that it is difficult for pedestrians to anticipate the oncoming vehicles. “As there is no facility for pedestrians such as a zebra crossing or signal, people are forced to dart across the road”.
Attendants say that there are chances of a road accident outside the hospital road as attendants and patients are crossing the bypass without any foot-over bridge or Zebra-Crossing.
The Government had shifted the Children’s Hospital from Sonwar to Srinagar. The
attendants have been facing multiple problems in the newly inaugurated hospital.
The attendants say that there is a strong case for installing a foot-over bridge outside the hospital for safe commuting. “The hospital is outside the bypass where vehicles pass without any dynamic speed limit. The spot is prone to accidents and to avoid those, the government should install a foot-over bridge like we have one outside JVC or Government College for Women on MA Road,” they said, adding that authorities must address the issue at the earliest.
It is also difficult for ambulances to reach the hospital in case of emergencies as they have to take a U-turn two kilometres ahead of the hospital, attendants said.
The concerned officials said that the matter has been taken up with the higher authorities. (KINS)
