HealthKashmir

‘Abandoned’ hospital building turns favourite spot for gamblers, drunkards, drug addicts in Central Kashmir’s Budgam

Look at the condition of the rooms, everywhere there are cigarette packets, liquor bottles, beer bottles, codeine phosphate bottles.

BUDGAM: A non-functional hospital building has become nuisance for the people of Budgam village here in Central Kashmir.

The hospital building these days is a favourite spot for drunkards and drug addicts.

Government procured land for a hospital building at Pethmakhama in Magam Tehsil and started work in 2008. The building was completed in ‘record’ two years’ time but since 2010, people are waiting for the day when this hospital will be inaugurated and thrown open for them.

People are up in arms against the government asking it to demolish the building. “Since 2010, we have seen officials visiting this building assuring people that this hospital will become functional but from 2010 to 2021 nothing changed,” locals told news agency Kashmir News Trust.

They said building has become a favourite spot for drunkards, gamblers and drug addicts. “Look at the condition of the rooms, everywhere there are cigarette packets, liquor bottles, beer bottles, codeine phosphate bottles. We are fed up with the hollow promises from the government. From 12 years, this hospital has not been made functional,” the locals said.

Locals demand either this ‘so-called’ hospital be made functional or it should be demolished. “We don’t want anti-social elements use this deserted building for their own interest,” they said.

An elderly man from the village said that over 4,000 people will be benefitted if this hospital is made functional. “We shift sick to Magam hospital which is far away from this place,” he said.

When contacted Director Health Dr Mushtaq Ahmed said he is in a meeting and will talk later while Chief Medical Officer Budgam Dr Tajamul’s phone was powered off. (KNT)

Look at the condition of the rooms, everywhere there are cigarette packets, liquor bottles, beer bottles, codeine phosphate bottles.

Tanveer Hussain

Tanveer Hussain is a video journalist working for news agency Kashmir News Trust (KNT) in Central Kashmir's Budgam.

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