Medical Superintendent Orders Action After Viral Video Sparks Questions Over Misuse of Public Ambulance at Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital
Viral social media reel reportedly shot inside a Government ambulance at Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital, Poonch, triggers outrage amid the district’s ongoing flood tragedy
Medical Superintendent Dr. Mohd Shafiq says no permission was granted, orders charge sheet against the driver and action against all responsible for misuse of Government property
Repeated incidents of reel and vlog recordings inside the District Hospital raise serious concerns over administrative oversight and enforcement of hospital discipline
jj correspondent
Poonch, July 25, 2026: At a time when Poonch is struggling to recover from the devastating floods that claimed lives and caused widespread destruction, a viral social media reel reportedly filmed inside a Government ambulance at Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital, Poonch, has triggered widespread concern and raised serious questions over the misuse of public resources meant exclusively for emergency healthcare services.
The controversy has drawn sharp public reaction as the district continues to cope with the aftermath of the disaster, with Government ambulances playing a crucial role in transporting patients and assisting relief operations. The reported use of one such emergency vehicle for creating social media content has prompted demands for accountability and stricter enforcement of hospital protocols.
When contacted by Jammu Jottings, Medical Superintendent Dr. Mohd Shafiq categorically stated that no permission had been granted for filming any social media content inside the Government ambulance or within the hospital premises. He made it clear that he was completely unaware of the incident until the matter was brought to his notice.
Dr. Mohd Shafiq described the incident as completely unacceptable and confirmed that disciplinary proceedings had already been initiated. He said the ambulance driver would be issued a charge sheet to explain how a Government ambulance remained accessible and how it was allegedly misused without authorisation. He warned that strict departmental action would follow after examining the driver’s reply and did not rule out suspension or termination if negligence was established.
The Medical Superintendent also stated that notices would be issued to all persons found responsible for the unauthorised use of the ambulance and reiterated that Government vehicles are public assets meant solely for patient care and emergency medical services.
Expressing concern over the incident, Dr. Mohd Shafiq observed that hospitals cannot be converted into locations for social media content creation. He pointed out that at a time when Poonch is passing through an emergency situation because of the recent floods, every Government ambulance should remain fully available for public service and emergency response.
He further remarked that if anyone wished to create personal content, there were countless private locations available and there was absolutely no justification for using a Government ambulance or hospital premises for such purposes.
The controversy has assumed greater significance as sources claim that this was not an isolated incident. Similar reel and vlog recordings have reportedly taken place inside the District Hospital on earlier occasions as well, allegedly in full public view. If these claims are found to be true, they raise serious concerns over administrative vigilance and the repeated misuse of Government healthcare infrastructure.
The incident has also revived debate over the increasing culture of creating social media content at sensitive public institutions. Medical professionals and members of the public believe that hospitals are places where lives are saved and patients receive treatment, and any activity that compromises the dignity, discipline or functioning of healthcare institutions deserves serious attention.
The reported misuse of a Government ambulance has particularly disturbed citizens because such vehicles are purchased with public funds to provide emergency medical assistance. Any unauthorised use during a period of natural disaster, when emergency services are under tremendous pressure, raises questions about responsibility and accountability.
With the Medical Superintendent confirming that departmental proceedings have already been initiated, all eyes are now on the outcome of the inquiry. The public expects that responsibility will be fixed and appropriate action taken so that Government hospitals and emergency vehicles remain dedicated solely to patient care and are never used for purposes unrelated to public service.
