Gurez Residents Continue Hunger Strike Over Healthcare Crisis

The hunger strike by residents of Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district entered its second day on Friday, with protesters demanding improved medical facilities, an inquiry into the deaths of a pregnant woman and her baby, and a reshuffle of the local administration.

The protesters are seeking the deployment of four-wheel-drive ambulances in Bagtore, Tulail and Dawar, along with the permanent appointment of a gynaecologist and a radiologist at Gurez Hospital.

They have also demanded that the hospital’s operation theatre and blood bank be made fully functional to improve access to essential healthcare in the remote region.

The agitation follows the death of Haseena Begum, a 30-year-old pregnant woman from Mazgund village in Tulail, and her stillborn baby on October 14, 2026.

The protesters have called for a fair, impartial and time-bound inquiry into the deaths, demanding accountability if negligence is established.

They have also sought changes in the Gurez administration, citing what they describe as longstanding shortcomings in healthcare services and local governance.

The protesters say their demands are aimed at strengthening emergency medical services, ensuring the availability of specialist doctors and improving healthcare infrastructure across the region.