Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a devastating escalation following Operation Sindoor, a Pakistani drone strike killed a 50-year-old woman in Ferozepur district, Punjab, on May 9. The drone reportedly fell on her house in Khai Phem village, severely injuring her husband and son. The woman, identified as Sukhwinder Kaur, later succumbed to burn injuries at DMC Hospital, Ludhiana. Her husband, Lakhwinder Singh, remains in critical condition with 70% burns, while their 24-year-old son, Jaswant Singh, is stable.
The grieving family accused Ferozepur’s private Anil Baghi Hospital of refusing treatment without an advance payment of ₹40,000. Despite their emergency condition, the hospital reportedly delayed treatment until the deposit was made. Family members claimed they had to gather money urgently from relatives to initiate treatment for the three burn victims.
The incident occurred just two days after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistani intrusions. In retaliation, Pakistan launched attacks along the border using drones and missiles. One of the drones crashed into the roof of Lakhwinder Singh’s home in Ferozepur’s Khai Phem village. The impact caused an explosion and fire, burning the house and the family’s vehicle. Neighbors rushed to help and arranged an ambulance to the civil hospital. However, due to the lack of a burn unit, they were transferred to Anil Baghi Hospital.
On May 10, Punjab’s Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian visited the hospital and met the victims. He announced that the state government would cover all medical expenses. Due to the deteriorating condition of the husband and wife, they were referred to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana. Later, BJP’s Punjab unit president Sunil Jakhar and other leaders visited them there.
Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya also visited the victim’s family. He described the situation as heartbreaking and stated that such incidents should never happen to civilians. “The family’s car was completely charred. The doctors confirmed that both husband and wife had suffered over 75% burns,” he told reporters.
This tragic incident highlights the growing dangers civilians face in border areas amid military escalations. It also exposes the shortcomings in emergency healthcare, especially when private hospitals demand upfront payments in life-threatening situations. The Pakistani drone strike that killed a woman in Ferozepur is not just a story of border conflict but also of civilian vulnerability and systemic healthcare failure.
