Sikar hospital death: Family alleges negligence after C-section mother dies
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Deepa Nayak, a 29-year-old woman from Raipura village in Sikar, Rajasthan, died approximately 34 hours after undergoing a Caesarean delivery at the Government Zanana Hospital, Sikar, with her family alleging medical negligence and delayed referral as the cause. The death, which occurred on 22 July, triggered a protest by family members and villagers outside the mortuary of Shri Kalyan Government Hospital in Sikar.
Timeline of Events
According to the family, Deepa was admitted to the Government Zanana Hospital on 20 July following labour pains. She delivered a healthy baby girl at around 11 am on 21 July via Caesarean section and was subsequently shifted to the general ward.
Her husband, Lalchand Nayak, alleged that at approximately 1:30 pm on 22 July, a nursing staff member administered an injection to Deepa, after which she reportedly developed breathing difficulties and swelling across her body. He claimed that despite repeated requests, the family was asked to wait for a doctor and that Deepa's condition continued to worsen over several hours.
The Alleged Delay in Referral
According to the family, Deepa's condition had turned critical by around 3 pm on 22 July, yet she was referred to Jaipur only between 8 pm and 8:30 pm — a gap of roughly five hours. Lalchand further alleged that the ambulance carrying Deepa turned back near Bajor and returned to Shri Kalyan Government Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
This sequence — a post-operative deterioration, an alleged delayed response, and a referral reversal — forms the core of the family's negligence claim. The allegations have not been independently verified, and a formal investigation is underway.
Family's Demands and Protest
Deepa is survived by a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and her newborn baby girl, born just two days before her death. Lalchand, who works as a painter and is described as the sole earning member of the household, also cares for a mentally challenged father.
The family, joined by residents of Raipura village, gathered outside the hospital mortuary with a set of formal demands: strict departmental and legal action against those found responsible; a compensation of ₹11 lakh for each of Deepa's two daughters; a post-mortem conducted by a medical board; a contractual government job for Lalchand; and inclusion of two family representatives in the inquiry committee.
Hospital's Response
The first round of talks between protesters and hospital authorities reportedly ended without resolution. Priyanka Aman, Superintendent of Shri Kalyan Government Hospital, confirmed that a formal complaint had been received and said a committee of senior doctors would be constituted to investigate. She stated that CCTV footage would be reviewed and statements of all concerned staff recorded.
Aman added that she was informed of the incident at around 7:45 pm on Wednesday and immediately reached the maternity hospital with senior officials. She also stated that when the 108 ambulance service could not be reached, the hospital arranged its own ambulance and nursing staff to transfer the patient. She said that if negligence is established, 'the guilty would not be spared.'
The inquiry's findings are expected to determine whether the death was the result of a medical complication or institutional failure — a question with significant implications for accountability in Rajasthan's public health system.