GMC Handwara Orders Time-Bound Inquiry ‘Trolley of Shame’

New Delhi, December 20, 2025: A wave of public outrage has been sparked following the circulation of a distressing viral video showing a patient being pushed on a hospital trolley along an open road in Handwara, Jammu and Kashmir. The footage, which surfaced on December 19, 2024, depicts attendants wheeling a sick individual through a busy market street, allegedly due to the non-availability of essential diagnostic services and transport at Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara. In a swift response to the growing criticism, a time-bound inquiry has been ordered by the health authorities to ascertain the circumstances leading to this administrative failure.

The Incident: A Patient Wheeled Through Public Streets

The 15-second clip, which has been dubbed by netizens as the “Trolley of Shame,” was reportedly filmed after a doctor at GMC Handwara recommended an urgent CT Scan. It was observed that the patient’s family was forced to move the trolley manually for nearly one kilometer toward a private diagnostic center because the hospital’s own CT machine was non-functional.

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Rapid Inquiry and Suspension of Staff

Following the social media storm, immediate action was taken by the Administrative Secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah. A high-level, three-member inquiry committee was constituted to investigate the matter with a strict deadline to submit its findings by 11:00 AM on December 20, 2025.

Official Stance vs. Attendant Claims

A conflicting narrative has emerged between the hospital administration and the patient’s relatives. While the Medical Superintendent of GMC Handwara, Dr. Aijaz Ahmad, admitted to a technical snag in the CT machine, it was claimed by him that the attendants acted “in haste” and did not officially request an ambulance before moving the patient.

However, local civil society groups and residents have rejected these claims, arguing that the incident is reflective of a deeper neglect of essential medical infrastructure. Demands are being made for the immediate installation of a new CT scanner and the implementation of stricter accountability measures to prevent patients from being subjected to such “humiliation” in the future.

As the inquiry report is finalized, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragile state of healthcare in rural regions and the power of digital media in forcing administrative transparency.