Malkangiri: Tension gripped district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Odisha’s Malkangiri on Wednesday as the grieving family of an eight-month-pregnant woman assaulted an on-duty doctor.
The deceased has been identified as Bandana Mondal (28).
According to her relatives, she fell ill late Tuesday night after a snake was spotted inside their house. Suspecting a snakebite, family members rushed her to the hospital around 1 am and even brought the dead snake with them to assist doctors in identifying the species and administering appropriate treatment.
Family membe
rs claimed that despite their concerns, Bandana did not receive adequate medical attention. They alleged she was advised to return home even though her condition had not improved. “She was still unwell, but the doctors asked us to take her home. Had she been kept under observation and treated properly, her life could have been saved,” a relative alleged.
Her condition reportedly worsened after returning home, following which the family brought her back to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead around 6:30 am. The incident sparked outrage among relatives and locals, who accused hospital staff of failing to provide proper care.
Hospital authorities and the treating doctor strongly denied any lapse. Dr Sidharth Bhola stated that the patient was provided with all necessary medicines and medical care. “There was no negligence in treatment. The patient left the hospital on her own with her family members after receiving the treatment,” he said.
As the agitated family members allegedly assaulted the doctor amid the escalating tension, police personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, preventing further unrest. The exact cause of her death is yet to be ascertained.