Jammu & Kashmir Government on Saturday ordered an inquiry after a woman gave birth to a baby on a road as doctors at the Valley's premier maternity care hospital here allegedly refused her overnight stay at the medical facility.

The woman, a resident of Kupwara district of north Kashmir, delivered a baby girl on the road, but the family could not save the baby.

Divisional commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan, ordered an inquiry to ascertain the factual position after reports of denial of entry of a pregnant woman into Lal Ded Hospital came to the fore.         

“A news item has been posted on the social media which reveals that a woman from remote area of Kupwara district was forced to deliver on the roadside after doctors of Government L D Hospital, Srinagar, the largest maternity care hospital in the valley, did not allow her to stay in the hospital for a night and did not admit her on Thursday,” Khan said in the inquiry order.

The Divisional commissioner Kashmir asked Principal/Dean, Government Medical College Srinagar to inquire into the matter and submit the report in two days.

"This news item needs a thorough enquiry to find out the factual position, so that appropriate action is taken against the concerned if found liable for such negligence/ act," the order read.

Khan asked the inquiry officer to treat the matter most urgent.

"You are accordingly directed to enquire into the matter and furnish the inquiry report along with your explicit comments within two days, treating the matter most urgent," the order said.

The relatives and neighbours of the woman held a protest march at Press Enclave here on Saturday, demanding action and doctors and hospital administration.

They also demanded establishment of a maternity care hospital in Kupwara and accommodation at Srinagar for patients from such far-flung areas.

The incident happened on Thursday night after the woman from remote Moore village of Kalaroos area of Kupwara developed labour pain at her home earlier during the day. A family member of the woman said she was taken to Kalaroos hospital on a cot by a few people as the road was not motorable because of snow.