Army Supplies Emergency Fuel, Saves Child in Sumbal
Power cuts, closed petrol pumps left family stranded; 13 RR personnel step in at midnight
Convener News Desk
Srinagar, December 22: A critically ill child in north Kashmir’s Sumbal area was saved after the Indian Army stepped in to provide emergency fuel late Saturday night when all petrol pumps in the Sub Division were allegedly shut.
According to locals, the child’s condition deteriorated around 12:30 am on Sunday, and doctors advised immediate oxygen support. “While the family had access to an oxygen concentrator, prolonged power cuts in the area rendered it unusable. The family rushed to nearby petrol pumps to procure fuel for a generator but found all outlets closed,” locals alleged.
With no alternative available in the middle of night, the family contacted the Indian Army’s 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) camp at Safapora. Family said Army personnel responded immediately and supplied petrol without delay, enabling the generator to run and the oxygen concentrator to function. The timely intervention helped stabilise the child’s condition.
The Army’s swift response was widely appreciated by residents, who credited the personnel’s humanitarian approach for averting a tragedy. “ It was a last option for us to approach Army Camp. The response was heart-warming, Without any second thought, army not only provided fuel but later also came to see the child,” they added.
Locals, politicians and social activists hailed army for timely intervention. “Fortunately, there were no delays and no formalities—only humanity. Petrol was provided immediately, because a child’s life mattered more than procedures. That single act allowed the oxygen to run and gave the child a chance to breathe,” PDP leader Yasir Reshi wrote on X while appreciating the efforts of the army.
Residents said the incident exposes a recurring problem in the Sumbal–Safapora belt, where patients are frequently referred at night to Srinagar-based hospitals such as SKIMS and SMHS. “Fuel availability is crucial not just for ambulances, but also for generators during power outages, especially in medical emergencies,” former MLC Yasir Reshi said.
The incident has renewed calls for administrative intervention to ensure round-the-clock fuel availability in the area. Locals have urged the Bandipora district administration to issue clear directions to petrol pumps to remain operational for emergency services, particularly during winters when power disruptions are frequent.
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