Kota hospital deaths: Energy Minister demands probe into negligence, procurement
Synopsis
A Rajasthan cabinet minister has turned on his own government, alleging fungus-infested operation theatres, procurement corruption, and a cover-up behind the deaths of four pregnant women at Kota hospitals — while another minister celebrated his birthday metres away from grieving families.
Key Takeaways
Four pregnant women died following caesarean surgeries and kidney failure at Kota government hospitals.
Energy Minister Hiralal Nagar wrote to Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar alleging negligence, fungus in operation theatres, and procurement corruption.
Nagar demanded a high-level inquiry into purchase of medicines, bandages, and gauze at New Medical College Hospital and MBS Hospital over the past year.
Education Minister Madan Dilawar faced criticism for celebrating his birthday at Agarwal Seva Sadan , barely 100 metres from the hospital, while families of deceased women protested outside.
Opposition leader Tikaram Jully demanded a public apology from Dilawar, calling the celebrations "inhuman" amid an active hospital crisis.
Rajasthan Energy Minister Hiralal Nagar has written a strongly worded letter to Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, alleging negligence, infection, and corruption in medical procurement following the deaths of four pregnant women at Kota hospitals after caesarean surgeries and kidney failure complications. The letter, sent amid growing public outrage, marks a rare instance of a cabinet minister openly targeting his own government over a health crisis.
What the Energy Minister Alleged
Nagar alleged that fungus and dampness in the emergency operation theatre at Kota's government hospitals led to infections among pregnant women, causing severe deterioration in their health and resulting in kidney failure. He further alleged that officials were taking
Point of View
If substantiated, would point to systemic facility maintenance failures that go beyond any single procurement scandal. Meanwhile, the optics of a minister celebrating his birthday metres from grieving families — and reportedly doing so after already visiting the hospital once without follow-up — compound the accountability deficit. Rajasthan's public health infrastructure has faced repeated scrutiny; this episode risks hardening the perception that political insensitivity and institutional neglect are two sides of the same coin.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Kota hospitals that triggered the controversy?
Four pregnant women died following complications after caesarean surgeries, with kidney failure reported as a key factor at Kota government hospitals. Rajasthan Energy Minister Hiralal Nagar alleged that fungus and dampness in the emergency operation theatre caused infections that led to the deterioration of patients' health.
What has Energy Minister Hiralal Nagar demanded?
Nagar wrote to Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar demanding an immediate high-level inquiry into medical procurement — including medicines, bandages, and gauze — at New Medical College Hospital and MBS Hospital over the past year. He also sought legal and departmental action against officials involved in procurement.
Why is Education Minister Madan Dilawar under criticism?
Dilawar attended his birthday celebrations at Agarwal Seva Sadan, barely 100 metres from the hospital, while families of the deceased women staged protests outside. Critics, including opposition leader Tikaram Jully, called the timing insensitive and demanded a public apology.
Who is Tikaram Jully and what did he say?
Tikaram Jully is an opposition leader who demanded an apology from Education Minister Dilawar. He called the birthday celebrations amid the hospital crisis "inhuman" and said they reflected a complete absence of sensitivity, also referencing a prior incident where Dilawar attended a welcome ceremony a day after children died in a school roof collapse in Jhalawar.
Which hospitals are at the centre of the Kota deaths controversy?
New Medical College Hospital and MBS Hospital in Kota, Rajasthan are the two facilities named in the controversy. Energy Minister Nagar personally visited the hospital wards and met patients and senior doctors to assess the situation.
