Pulwama doctor’s death triggers debate over working hours

November 4, 2025 by News Desk

Murtaza Bilal

A young intern doctor, from Pulwama, has died at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, triggering widespread grief and debate over the working conditions faced by medical trainees in Jammu Kashmir’s leading hospital.

Dr Tariq ul Islam, an intern doctor at SKIMS Hospital, who was from Pulwama, who had been suffering from flu for the past several days, reportedly continued to attend his duties despite illness.

Doctors believe he may have succumbed to viral pericarditis. His sudden death has left colleagues and the wider medical community in shock, prompting conversations about the pressures and workload young doctors face during their internship.

The incident came to light on November 2, 2025, when tributes and emotional posts began to circulate on social media.

Several users claimed that long duty hours and poor working conditions were responsible for his death. However, some of his colleagues urged people not to misrepresent facts or use his death for unrelated demands.

Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, National Executive FAIMA Doctors Association and Vice President All India Medical Students Association J&K, told The Kashmiriyat, “He had flu since some days, most probably viral pericarditis, and ultimately died. The demand is to grant ex-gratia compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Act.”

Responding to claims circulating online that Dr Tariq was denied leave, Dr Momin Khan said, “People are now demanding stipend on his death, that’s wrong. I have already brought the stipend issue personally to the Chief Minister and other officials.”

He demanded that the duty hours for interns and senior residents should be reduced to ensure better health, learning, and patient safety.

“No doctor should be forced to work 24 or 48-hour shifts. Also, I sincerely request everyone not to use Dr Tariq’s tragic death as a play card for stipend demands. I have personally taken up this matter with the Hon’ble Chief Minister,” he demanded.

Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with tributes and emotional messages. “He healed others but no one healed him. An intern doctor at SKIMS pleaded for rest, but the system made him work till his last breath. He didn’t die of infection, he was slain by exhaustion and apathy,” wrote Dr ibuprofen on X.

Another user, Dr Showkat Shah, said, “My condolences to one of the youngest doctors of the valley, Dr Tariq ul Islam. We lost a precious one on duty, it is equivalent to Shahadat. May Allah grant him the highest place in heaven.”

Journalist Mehak Mir wrote that Dr Tariq’s death reflected a “system infected with exploitation,” where interns are “forced into 24–48-hour shifts, paid peanuts, and still expected to smile through exhaustion.”

However, some of his batchmates appealed for restraint. “Please honour his sacrifice by appreciating his dedication and service. Don’t use his death for general issues like stipend and all. We just want people to remember him for his service,” wrote Shariq, one of his colleagues.

Dr Tariq’s passing has reignited calls for reform within the medical training system in Kashmir. While SKIMS administration has not yet issued an official statement, the tragedy has once again brought attention to the physical and mental toll borne by young doctors in hospita

ls across the region.