50-year-old Manga Chechi Carries Sick Wife For 13 Km To Reach Hospital In J&K's Kupwara

On Friday, Manga Chechi had walked 13 kilometres from Jhada village, which is close to Line of Control (LoC), to reach sub-district hospital Tangdhar for treatment

Photo: Asif Qureshi

Jammu & Kashmir: Shoddy healthcare system was exposed again when a 50-year-old man had to carry his sick wife on his back and traverse through the treacherous mountains to reach the hospital at Tangdhar in Kupwara district. On Friday, Manga Chechi had walked 13 kilometres from Jhada village, which is close to Line of Control (LoC), to reach sub-district hospital Tangdhar for treatment. “For the last two years, the health centre in our village is nonfunctional. I walked for three hours to reach Tangdhar. Nobody helped me. No vehicle is plying,” he said. A video of Manga Chichi carrying his wife has gone viral in Kashmir. “His wife was ill for the last two months. A few days ago, her condition deteriorated. There was no employee at the health centre and he had to carry his wife on his back to reach the hospital”, said Raja Waqar, deputy sarpanch of Kandi village. Photo: Asif Qureshi Raja Waqar said after the video became viral, the administration swung into action and provided necessary medical help to the woman. “This video created a flutter and administration immediately swung into action. The woman was treated,” he said. Photo: Asif Qureshi This is not the first case in this area. A few years ago another man had to carry his wife on his back to reach the hospital. Raja Waqar further said, the primary health centre has been set up in Jhada village but hardly any employee remains available. “In normal circumstances, the staff does not attend the duties. This time because of COVID, the employees are not coming. This area has been neglected by the administration,” he said. Tehsildar, Tangdhar, Tawheed Ahmad confirmed that the man had brought his wife to the hospital. “There was some issue and the man had brought his wife to the hospital,” he said.