SHIMLA: About 600 students residing in Lahaul-Spiti organised candle marches across four districts of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday evening, demanding medical facilities in the district, a month after a pregnant woman died of medical negligence in the area."We organised the candle march so that no more deaths occur in Lahaul-Spiti because of medical reasons. We want the government to wake up to its reponsibilities towards Lahaul Spiti which is one of its districts but has always been neglected," said president of Lahaul Spiti Students' Welfare Association Kesang Youdan. The march took place across Shimla, Solan, Lahaul-Spiti and Dharamshala.Youdan said, four pregnant women have lost their lives in Lahaul-Spiti in last three years. On March 13, a 27-year-old pregnant woman lost her life in Hansa village due to late arrival of the helicopter needed to airlift her to Kullu for treatment.There is a zonal hospital in Keylong and a community hospital in Kaza but none in Spiti. The only ultrasound machine in Kaza hospital has been lying out of order since last five years. According to Youdan, a limited number of hospitals without any gynaecologists and latest equipments cause patients to suffer. "Most of the deaths occur here since the people can not afford stay out of the district for their treatment," she added.Youdan said it is not the first time they are raising the issue."We will submit memorandum to chief minister Virbhadra Singh and would launch a massive protest if no action is taken within a month," she added.Another student Pratibha Sharma said Lahaul-Spiti remains cut from the rest of the world for around six months due to heavy snowfall. Hence, if a medical emergency arises at that time, people suffer a lot due to inadequate number of hospitals in the district.However, health and family welfare director Dr Baldev Kumar refused to speak on the issue stating that he is out of town and cannot speak on anything happening in the state now.

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