69 of 134 Posts Vacant in Ramban Hospitals, Residents Seek Urgent Govt Action | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: As many as 69 out of 134 sanctioned posts across Ramban’s key health institutions are lying vacant, leaving the district’s healthcare system severely overstretched, senior Congress leader and advocate Fairoz Khan has said while flagging what he termed as an unfolding governance crisis marked by prolonged power outages and acute staff shortages.

Addressing the press in Ramban on December 31, 2025, Khan said the district was facing two major failures this winter: the collapse of a reliable electricity supply and a dangerously understaffed healthcare system. He said that despite the installation of smart meters, the Power Development Department has failed to provide even a basic and predictable power schedule, with large parts of the district witnessing outages extending beyond eight hours a day, often without prior notice.

According to him, areas including Ramban, Maitra, Balote Mahu, Mangit, Khari, Neel, Chaknarwah, Chamalwas, Shagan, Sumar, Harog, Bajmasta, Pogal, Kunda, Maligam, Paristan, Chaka, Sarbagni, Thachi, Amkoot, Bankoot, Wagan, Krawa, Chapnari, Nachlana, Ramsoo, Ukharhal, Batroo, Dardahi, Gool, Dharam, Sanagaldan, Rajgarh and Gandhri have been facing daily power cuts running into several hours. He said places such as Thachi, Wagan, Amkoot, Chamalwas Lower B, Chamalwas Upper, Kralchial and Chaknarwah remained in complete darkness for two consecutive days, with electricity restored only after repeated calls to officials.

Khan said the erratic power supply has pushed households dependent on electricity for heating into unsafe conditions, adding that the administration cannot expect people in hilly and snow-prone areas to endure winter without a dependable power system.

Alongside the power crisis, he highlighted what he described as an alarming shortage of medical staff in the district. He said that across District Hospital Ramban, the Trauma Centre Ramban and other health units, only 65 posts are currently filled against 134 sanctioned positions. At District Hospital Ramban, 23 doctors and staff are in position against 35 sanctioned posts, leaving 12 vacancies. The situation is worse at the Trauma Centre, where only four posts are filled against a sanctioned strength of 14, leaving 10 vacancies.

He said the shortages span specialist doctors, medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory and X-ray technicians, paramedical staff and essential support personnel. Khan warned that this situation becomes life-threatening during winter months when the Jammu–Srinagar highway remains blocked for long stretches and medical emergencies increase.

According to him, other health facilities in the district, including Banihal Hospital, PHC Ukhral, PHC Neel, PHC Ramsoo and PHC Rajgarh, are also functioning with inadequate manpower, forcing patients to travel long distances for basic treatment, undermining the very purpose of block- and tehsil-level healthcare institutions.

Calling it a direct administrative failure, Khan urged the Chief Minister to intervene immediately to ensure uninterrupted power supply during winter, stop unscheduled and prolonged power cuts in remote areas, withdraw the proposed hike in electricity tariffs and honour commitments made regarding fair billing and relief in power charges. He also appealed to the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to step in, conduct a district-level review of the Power Development Department’s functioning, fix responsibility on erring officers and direct the health department to fill all vacant posts at District Hospital Ramban and the Trauma Centre without delay.

Khan said electricity and healthcare are not luxuries but essential rights, warning that continued neglect would leave people with no option but to seek relief through democratic and legal means. He said Ramban has consistently supported government programmes, but the administration should not mistake public patience for weakness, stressing that the situation demands seriousness, sensitivity and immediate action.