A fourth maternal death has been recorded this month at government hospitals linked to Kota Medical College, Rajasthan, as Reshu, a resident of Harota Bhil village in Baran district, died in the early hours of Tuesday, 28 October 2026 while receiving treatment at the super-speciality wing of New Medical College Hospital, Kota. The death has deepened alarm over the state of maternal healthcare at one of Rajasthan's largest public hospital clusters.

How Reshu's case unfolded

Reshu, daughter of Dhul Singh, was first admitted to JK Lon Hospital for childbirth. According to her family, the baby died in the womb during delivery. Her condition worsened over subsequent days, and she was transferred to New Medical College Hospital for higher care.

Her sister recounted that Reshu had shown brief signs of recovery — she was reportedly able to speak and walk to the restroom at one stage. However, she subsequently stopped urinating and developed acute abdominal pain. Doctors reportedly told the family her kidneys had failed. She died late Monday night, extending into the early hours of Tuesday. Police conducted a post-mortem examination and handed the body over to her family.

The family also alleged that ambulance staff demanded payment to transport the body, despite their poor financial condition, arguing that government ambulance services should be provided free of charge.

The Shabnam Bano case: family alleges negligence

One of the other recent deaths involved Shabnam Bano, 26, a resident of Chhabra in Baran district, who died at JK Lon Hospital on Saturday night. Her family has alleged medical negligence.

According to her brother Sarfaraz, Shabnam was admitted to a government hospital in Baran on 22 October. On 23 October, she was asked to stop eating and drinking ahead of surgery, but the procedure was reportedly delayed for nearly 12 hours. An intravenous drip administered at around 7 pm was followed by what the family described as seizures.

She was subsequently referred to Kota, where she delivered a baby girl through a Caesarean section at JK Lon Hospital at around 11:30 pm. Her blood pressure reportedly dropped during surgery and she was placed on a ventilator, but did not survive.

JK Lon Hospital Superintendent Dr Nirmala Sharma said Shabnam had arrived at the hospital in a coma on the night of 23 October. According to Dr Sharma, the baby's heart rate was fluctuating and the family had been kept informed of the seriousness of the situation. The medical team succeeded in delivering the baby through surgery but could not save the mother, she said.

A recurring pattern: May 2026 cluster deaths

This is not the first time Kota's public hospitals have faced a cluster of maternal deaths. In May 2026, 12 women reportedly developed kidney failure following Caesarean deliveries performed between 5 May and 7 May. Five of them — Payal, Jyoti, Priya, Pinky, and Shirin — died on 5 May, 7 May, 9 May, 10 May, and 17 May, respectively. The remaining seven required prolonged treatment and dialysis; though later discharged, they reportedly continued on regular dialysis.

The recurrence of complications — particularly kidney failure following Caesarean procedures — has raised questions about surgical protocols, anaesthesia practices, and post-operative monitoring at these facilities.

Wider concern over maternal safety at Kota hospitals

With four maternal deaths recorded in October alone at hospitals affiliated with Kota Medical College, public health advocates and opposition leaders have renewed calls for an independent inquiry into standards of care at these institutions. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding Reshu's death is currently underway, according to reports.

The pattern of deaths — spanning multiple months, involving kidney failure, delayed surgeries, and allegations of negligence — points to systemic concerns that go beyond any single case. Whether the Rajasthan government will order a formal audit of obstetric care at Kota's government hospitals remains to be seen.