Navy to hand over paediatric ward to J

Srinagar, July 27 (UNI) The Navy will tomorrow hand over to the Jammu and Kashmir government a 15-bed paediatric ward constructed by it at the existing Handwara hospital in Kupwara district in memory of school children who drowned in Wullar Lake on May 30 last year.

Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta will hand over the paediatric ward, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore, to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at Handwara.

The foundation stone of the paediatric ward was laid by then Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash on October 15 last year.

As many as 20 students, in the age group of 7-14 years, and two staff members of Burning Candle School, Handwara, drowned while ferrying in a navy boat in Wullar Lake, the Asia's largest fresh water reservoir ironically known for its sweet contents, during an excursion on May 30 last year.

The state medical authorities would operate the ward and the Army has assured full support in this regard.

The Navy had earlier provided an interim relief of Rs one lakh each to the families of the deceased.

UNI