GK City Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 13: The surging number of bullet-hit and wounded to various city hospitals on Monday triggered panic situation with hospital authorities appealing for blood donations which got huge response from people. But volunteers  were stopped by police and CRPF men who maintained that strict curfew was in place.
As scores of injured in firing by the forces were being rushed to City from various parts of Kashmir, the Government Medical College (GMC) associated hospitals like SMHS and B&J Hospitals started running short of blood.
The Principal GMC, Dr Shaheeda Mir, as per sources, immediately got a appeal flashed on electronic media channels that the hospitals need blood.
Knowing that the condition wasn’t suitable for people from distant places to pour in at the hospitals, the GMC authorities asked the volunteers to call helpline numbers for getting blood donation camps held in their localities.
The public response, the GMC officials said, remained phenomenal with people from various areas volunteering to donate blood.
But as the medical teams were being dispatched towards the destinations, their movement was hampered by the troopers. Similarly, the volunteers were stopped from reaching various hospitals
“They not only denied movement of our staff but even beat them ruthlessly,” said a GMC official.
The GMC principal Dr Shahida Mir while confirming the shortage of blood said the associated hospitals had to make the public appeals.
“The (security) forces didn’t allow smooth movement of our vehicles and staff,” Dr Mir told Greater Kashmir adding that at-least two ambulance drivers –injured in thrashing by troopers were admitted at &J Hospital.
“Besides a internee doctors was detained at Ram Munshi Bagh police station,” she added.
She admitted that due to the behavior of the troopers, the medical college administration had to contact the people living in the close vicinity of the associated hospitals to come forward for blood donation.
On a similar call for blood at SMHS hospital, people from nearby localities like Karan Nagar, Balgarden and Chattabal came up for the donations.
“We managed blood donation in the locality and many volunteered to serve the brethren,” said people from Masjid Intizaamiya of Masjid Sajadia, Chattabal.
Pertinently, some days ago, Director SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Dr Hamid Zargar had accused the police and CRPF of hindering the movement and hospital staff including doctors to the hospital.
Like Dr Mir, Dr Zargar had complained that some of the ambulance drivers were thrashed by the troopers.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST