Two newborns die as Astore road blockage takes a toll

GILGIT: At least two newborns lost their lives during delivery due to lack of timely medical assistance in a remote area of district Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan, on Wednesday.

The mother remains in critical condition, as residents decry the administration’s negligence in clearing blocked roads, which hindered access to medical facilities.

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According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), an avalanche struck the Chorit area last Sunday, prompting Assistant Commissioner Shounter Tanveer Ahmed to seek assistance from District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Astore.

In response, the DDMA deployed an excavator to clear the road. However, due to the massive size of the avalanche progress has been slow.  According to GBDMA, the avalanche measures approximately 600 feet in length and 18 feet in height. The GBDMA said only about 100 feet was cleared as of Tuesday.

Residents face severe difficulties in travelling during emergencies and experienced shortages of medicine, food, groceries, and other essential items. Meanwhile, the locals on Tuesday staged a protest against the administration for lack of swift action.

A video circulating on social media shows a resident addressing demonstrators, condemning the authorities for their inaction. The speaker revealed that the mother of the deceased infants was unwell for three days, but the road closure prevented her from being transported to hospital in time. “Had the road been cleared, these precious lives could have been saved,” he lamented.

“The local administration has prioritised its machinery and fuel for personal use rather than addressing the community’s urgent needs,” he added. The speaker also criticised the health department for failing to provide staff for the local Basic Health Unit (BHU), which has remained non-functional for nearly four years.

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“This is not just negligence; it is equivalent to murder,” he asserted, and added that the “unavailability of basic health facilities in the village was a gross violation of our fundamental human rights.”

The demonstrators urged authorities to take immediate action to address the area’s infrastructural and healthcare deficiencies. The protestors demanded compensation and support for the bereaved family.