Kupwara, July 5 (JKNS): The under-construction building of the Sub-District Hospital Wailgam, located in the Ramhal area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, has remained incomplete for more than a year, leading to an acute shortage of space and causing persistent difficulties for patients seeking basic healthcare services.
According to local sources, the Health Department initiated the construction of the new hospital building nearly a year ago to address the increasing patient load and the shortage of space in the existing facility.
The first floor was assigned to a local contractor, while the construction of the second floor was entrusted to the construction agency HLL.
Sources said that even the work on the first floor has not been fully completed, while construction on the second floor has stalled after only the walls were erected. Neither the roof nor the concrete slab has been laid, rendering the entire building unfit for use. Local residents have also alleged that substandard construction materials were used, raising serious concerns about the quality of the project.
The Block Medical Officer stated that the construction agency had been repeatedly informed, both verbally and in writing, to expedite the work. However, despite repeated reminders, there has been no significant progress over the past year.
Meanwhile, the contractor responsible for the first floor said that interior finishing work, including plastering and POP, cannot be carried out until the second floor is completed, as rainwater could damage the unfinished interiors.
When this correspondent made several attempts to contact officials associated with HLL for their response, the phone numbers provided remained unanswered, further adding to public concern over the delay.
Residents said that the shortage of space in the hospital has made it increasingly difficult to accommodate patients, particularly the elderly, women, and emergency cases. They described the prolonged delay in completing a crucial healthcare project as unacceptable and demanded accountability from the agencies responsible.
The local population has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Administration, the Health Department, and district authorities to ensure the immediate completion of the Sub-District Hospital Wailgam building so that thousands of people in Ramhal and adjoining areas can benefit from improved healthcare facilities. (JKNS)
