A gynaecologist in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district overcame severe winter weather to reach the district hospital and attend to patients by riding an excavator after his vehicle became stuck in deep snow. The incident occurred on January 27, 2026, during a spell of heavy snowfall that disrupted traffic and blocked major roads in the region. The doctor then performed multiple surgical procedures after arriving at the hospital.
Dr. Basharat Pandit, a resident of Pulwama district in south Kashmir and posted at the Shopian district hospital, set out from his home in Srinagar at about 7:30 am to travel the nearly 55 km to work. Although snowfall in Srinagar was light, conditions worsened as he progressed toward Shopian, where three to four feet of fresh snow had accumulated.
When his car became immobile due to the snow, Dr. Pandit walked about three kilometres toward the hospital. A JCB excavator working in the area provided an alternative, and he climbed onto it to continue the journey, ultimately arriving at the hospital at approximately 10:30 am.
Upon reaching the hospital, Dr. Pandit resumed clinical duties despite the extreme conditions. His department performed 10 surgeries during the day, including procedures for pregnant women who faced potential complications if care had been delayed. According to the doctor, all patients were stable following their procedures.
Dr. Pandit told news agencies that his actions were driven by a “sense of responsibility and duty,” especially for patients in need of urgent care who could not safely be referred to other hospitals due to the snow.
The severe snowfall that affected Shopian also disrupted broader transportation infrastructure across parts of Jammu and Kashmir, with major roads such as the Jammu-Srinagar national highway temporarily closed and flight services at Srinagar Airport suspended due to the snow and its impact on visibility and safety. Snow clearance and rescue operations were ongoing in multiple districts at the time.
Heavy snow accumulation can complicate access to healthcare facilities in mountainous regions, making transportation of patients and healthcare workers more reliant on both official clearance efforts and improvised local solutions such as the one employed by Dr. Pandit.
(Rh)
