Kashmir unrest: 3100 injured, 1500 of them security personnel

Over 3100 people, including 1500 securirty personnel, have been injured during the ongoing unrest in Kashmir that began after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir government said today while releasing the data.

Majority of the injured people have either been discharged from hospitals or treated for minor injuries in Out Patient Department (OPD), while 244 patients are still admitted in various government run hospitals, an official spokesman said.

He said 276 surgeries have been performed in various hospitals which received 1640 civilians injured during the last five days.

Of the wounded, 134 people have eye injuries and a large number of them have been discharged after specialised treatment, the spokesman said adding 46 such patients are currently admitted in SMHS hospital here and have undergone eye surgeries.

While tackling the unruly crowds, over 1500 security personnel have also received injuries and have been provided treatment, he said.

He said government has been regularly reviewing the arrangements, particularly for the treatment of the injured persons.

“The required facilities including the availability of medical specialists, para medical staff and medicines have been ensured in all the hospitals, to facilitate timely and free treatment to all the patients,” the spokesman said. He allayed the apprehensions in certain quarters with regard to inadequacy of health care services for the injured.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Bali Bhagat today chaired a high level meeting here and reviewed the availability of medicine and other medical supplies in hospitals across the Valley.

Expressing satisfaction over the adequate stocks of medicines and blood in the hospitals, the minister directed the concerned to extend every possible medicare to the injured for their early recovery. He also directed for ensuring free supply of medicines to the patients.

Bhagat said the team of senior ophthalmologists from AIIMS, which is on tour of Valley, expressed satisfaction over the healthcare facilities being provided to the injured persons. “There is no shortage of medicines and other surgical appliances in the hospitals,” he said.