Paediatric ward starts functioning after 8 months wait in Kashmir

Srinagar, (UNI) The state-of-the-art Pediatric ward, equipped with the latest medical equipment, which was locked since it was inaugurated by Navy Chief on July 28 last year, started functioning, an official spokesman said.

He said the ward, which was handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad by Navy Chief for the children and people of Handwara was functioning in full swing.

He said the ward was not functional for sometime due to some administrative reasons. Now, due to efforts of health department and civil administration, the children's ward has started functioning in full swing.

The 15-bed paediatric wing at the district hospital Handwara was a symbol of Navy's efforts to pay homage and immortalise the memory of those 21 children, who lost their lives after a navy boat overturned in Wullar Lake on 30 May, 2006.

The foundation stone of the paediatric ward was laid by then Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash on October 15, 2006.

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, Asia's largest fresh water reservoir ironically known for its sweet contents, during an excursion on May 30 last year.

UNI BAS ASM AM D1357