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| Hope beneath the surface: Govt plans underground hospital in Poonch | | | Sandeep Bhat
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 30: In a move that blends innovation with compassion, the government has proposed the construction of a first-of-its-kind underground emergency hospital in the border town of Poonch, where civilians have repeatedly borne the brunt of cross-border shelling from Pakistan.
This unique facility if approved will serve as a life-saving refuge for residents living under the constant shadow of violence, offering uninterrupted critical care even during intense hostilities.
The decision comes in the wake of one of the deadliest incidents in recent years, when on the night of May 6 and 7, 16 innocent civilians, including three minors, tragically lost their lives to unprovoked shelling. Entire families were left shattered, their loved ones torn away in a matter of moments. Amid the chaos, District Hospital Poonch became a lifeline, treating the injured with limited resources, under immense pressure.
Moved by such stories of survival and resilience, the government has drafted a proposal to construct a fully-equipped underground emergency and trauma care facility within the premises of the District Hospital, designed to withstand shelling and continue operations in crisis.
Officials say this will be the first civilian underground hospital in Jammu and Kashmir — and possibly in India — to be specifically built for wartime scenarios in a civilian setting.
“We don’t want another night like May 6,” said a senior district health officer. “This hospital will be a safe zone for both patients and staff during shelling. It’s about giving people not just treatment, but hope — a place where they know they’re protected.”
Poonch, often called a “forgotten frontline”, sits perilously close to the Line of Control. For decades, its people have lived under the constant threat of artillery fire, with little more than their faith and resilience to shield them. During ceasefire violations, access to healthcare becomes dangerously restricted, with roads blocked, medical staff risking their lives, and hospitals running on threadbare infrastructure.
While the construction of concrete walls and blast-proof doors is on the drawing board, the real foundation of this hospital lies in the government’s message to the border communities — that their lives matter, their pain is acknowledged, and their protection is a priority.
Health officials and civil society members have widely welcomed the initiative, with many calling it a symbol of resilience and state responsibility. The proposal is currently under review and, if sanctioned, will likely set a precedent for conflict-zone healthcare in other volatile regions.
As the town of Poonch slowly recovers from yet another tragedy, the hope of an underground hospital isn’t just a medical facility — it’s a promise of dignity, survival, and peace amid war. |
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