Kashmir unrest: Hospital records show more than 8000 civilians injured since July 9
An average of six civilians have been injured every hour.
A masked Kashmiri protester throws an Iron grill towards Indian policemen during a protest in Srinagar. (AP Photo)
Six civilians have been injured on an average every hour in Kashmir for the past 56 days and more than 70 percent of the civilians are from the towns and villages of Valley.
According to the official figures gathered from most of the major hospitals, 8904 civilians who were injured during the action of forces were received in the government hospitals across Kashmir. Each second hour an eye of a person is hit by the pellets fired by the forces – 664 persons have been admitted in the Ophthalmology department of Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital of Srinagar since July 9.
The data analysis of the number of injured received from Kashmir hospitals excluding Budgam district reveals that out of the 8904 civilians seen by doctors in the district, sub-district and tertiary hospitals, 6270 people were hurt during the protests that have taken place at district headquarters and in villages of south, central and north Kashmir. Most of the injured people belong to south Kashmir districts that have seen most of the civilian killings during the ongoing protests.
South Kashmir
In south Kashmir’s Anantnag district – home district of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti – 1027 civilians were received in the hospitals till September 1 since the protests began after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with police and Army in July 8. 1060 civilians were injured during the protests in Pulwama district. 648 among them were pellet victims and 64 had been hit by bullets.
In Kulgam district, 967 civilians were hurt during the forces’ action till August 31 and 671 of them had been hit by pellets. 451 civilians were injured during the 54 days and more than 300 of the victims were hit by pellets in Shopian.
Central Kashmir
Srinagar’s SHMS hospital has seen the highest number of injured civilians during the protests; it is the biggest tertiary hospital in Valley and only hospital with a full-fledged ophthalmology department. 1645 injured people including the critical ones referred from other districts have been treated at the hospital since July 8.
According to the figures provided by the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS), about 300 civilians were received in the hospital and 101 of the injured had pellet injuries. 14 deaths have taken place in the hospital since July 9. 47 major surgeries had been conducted in the hospital till August 23. In SKIMS medical college, 487 civilians injured during the protests were treated till the evening of September 1.
In Government Medical College Srinagar’s Bones and Joints hospitals, 165 civilians were treated. 40 patients who were allegedly beaten by forces were also received in the Government Dental College Srinagar. 154 civilians were treated in the hospitals of Srinagar that are run by the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir.
In central Kashmir Ganderbal district, 126 civilians were injured during the protests. The number of injured people from central Kashmir’s Budgam as health officials in the district they have been asked not share the figures with media.
North Kashmir
Over one thousand civilians have been injured during the protests in Kupwara district of north Kashmir. More than 800 civilians, with majority them having suffered pellet injuries were received in Baramulla district. 611 civilians were also injured in Bandipora district.
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