By Syed Sammar Mehdi

Budgam: A narrow road winds its way to Chalyan Choontinad, a village tucked into the upper reaches of Charar Sharief in central Kashmir. On Saturday, that silent stretch turned into a lifeline.

The Army’s 53 Rashtriya Rifles, working with the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department, set up a mega medical camp in the village. 

By the end of the day, 523 patients had been examined, many of them meeting specialist doctors for the first time.

Residents arrived early, some walking long distances. Families waited patiently as teams moved from one case to another. 

Doctors from Sub District Hospital Charar Sharief joined Army medical staff to offer consultations in general medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics and ophthalmology.

Col. Nitin Sharma, Commanding Officer of 53 RR based in Nagam, said the effort aimed to bridge gaps in access to healthcare in remote pockets of Budgam district. He praised the Health Department team for examining what he called a remarkable number of patients in a single day.

He also shared plans to organize similar camps in the coming months in other upper areas of Charar Sharief, bringing specialist services closer to villages that often rely on distant hospitals.

Doctors who participated included Dr. Tariq Aziz, a general physician; Dr. Shaheen, a gynecologist; Dr. Sheikh Sarwar, an orthopedician; Dr. Adil, a pediatrician; and Dr. Iqbal, a medical officer. Lateef Ahmad Bhat served as the ophthalmic technician. Army medical support included Capt. Pankaj and five nursing assistants.

Local civil society members and social activists visited the camp and interacted with patients. Among them was Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who welcomed the outreach.

“Specialist doctors coming to a far-off village during the holy month of Ramzan means a lot to poor and disadvantaged families,” he said. He thanked the Army team and district health officials for what he described as a timely initiative.

Col. Sharma extended Ramzan greetings to residents and acknowledged the support of district health officials, including the Chief Medical Officer of Budgam and block-level officers who coordinated the effort.

Lt. Col. Mohsin, the unit’s second-in-command, and Maj. Amay Bhardwaj of Kanidajan Camp accompanied the commanding officer during the visit.

The camp felt like both a clinic and a community gathering. 

Children gripped their prescriptions, elderly men compared blood pressure numbers, and women stepped out with medicines and visible relief.

Specialist care usually means a long trip to town. This Saturday, it came to Kashmir’s remote village with men, machinary and medicine.