Kerala toddler dies after anaesthesia for lip cut; doctor booked in Kannur
Synopsis
An 18-month-old boy taken to a Kannur hospital for a simple lip stitch never regained consciousness after anaesthesia was administered. Five days later he was dead, his parents left without their only child — born after eight years of marriage. A doctor has been booked, the hospital denies negligence, and police are now investigating what went wrong in what should have been a routine procedure.
Key Takeaways
Devansh Shouria , 18 months old , died at Baby Memorial Hospital, Kannur on a Friday evening after developing complications post-anaesthesia.
The child had been taken to the hospital's Payyannur branch on 5 July for stitching a minor lip cut sustained in a fall.
Anjali Poduval has been booked under Section 125 of the BNS following a complaint by relative K.
The hospital says the child suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest immediately after anaesthesia and that all protocols were followed.
Payyannur Police have launched a formal investigation into the circumstances of the procedure.
An 18-month-old boy died at a private hospital in Kannur, Kerala, five days after he allegedly developed life-threatening complications following the administration of anaesthesia for a minor lip injury. The child, Devansh Shouria, passed away at around 9 pm on Friday, sparking allegations of medical negligence and a police case against the treating anaesthetist.
What Happened
According to family members, Devansh sustained a cut on his lip after falling while playing outside his home in Mathamangalam, Eramam-Kuttoor grama panchayat, on 5 July. He was taken to Baby Memorial Hospital's Payyannur branch, where doctors decided to stitch the wound under general anaesthesia. Shortly after the anaesthesia was administered, the toddler's condition reportedly deteriorated and he never regained consciousness.
He was subsequently transferred to the hospital's main Kannur unit for advanced critical care, where he died five days later. Devansh was the only child of T. Suraj and Vijisha, born after eight years of their marriage.
Police Case and Allegations
Payyannur Police registered a case against the anaesthetist, Dr. Anjali Poduval, following a complaint filed by the child's relative, K. Rajeevan. The case has been booked under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to acts endangering human life or personal safety and carries a maximum punishment of three months' imprisonment. Investigators have launched a formal probe into the circumstances surrounding the procedure.
Hospital's Response
Baby Memorial Hospital has denied any negligence. In an official statement, the hospital said the child suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest immediately after receiving anaesthesia. It stated that doctors responded swiftly — initiating emergency resuscitation, placing the child on ventilator support, and arranging his transfer to the Kannur facility for specialised critical care.
The hospital maintained that all standard medical protocols were followed and noted that, while rare, serious complications can occur even when anaesthesia is administered correctly. It added that every possible effort was made to save the child's life.
Why This Case Has Drawn Attention
The death of a toddler following what the family describes as a routine procedure for a minor injury has raised broader concerns about anaesthesia safety protocols for very young children in private hospitals. Paediatric anaesthesia carries inherently higher risk, and medical experts generally recommend that such procedures be performed only in facilities equipped for rapid emergency response. This case comes amid growing public scrutiny of private healthcare standards in Kerala.
What Happens Next
Police are expected to examine hospital records, the anaesthesia dosage administered, and the emergency response timeline as part of their investigation. The outcome of the probe could determine whether additional charges or further legal action follow. The family continues to seek accountability for what they allege was avoidable negligence.
Point of View
And whether investigators dig deeper into systemic protocol failures or treat this as an isolated incident will matter. Paediatric anaesthesia in facilities without dedicated paediatric ICU backup is a known risk; this case invites scrutiny of whether Baby Memorial's Payyannur branch was adequately equipped for such an emergency. The hospital's swift public denial, while legally understandable, does little to address the family's core question: why was a toddler administered general anaesthesia for a minor laceration without apparent contingency preparedness.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Devansh Shouria in Kannur?
Devansh Shouria, an 18-month-old boy, died at Baby Memorial Hospital in Kannur five days after developing complications following anaesthesia administered for stitching a minor lip cut. He never regained consciousness after the procedure at the hospital's Payyannur branch on 5 July.
Who has been booked in the Kannur toddler death case?
Anaesthetist Dr. Anjali Poduval has been booked by Payyannur Police under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts endangering human life. The case was registered based on a complaint by the child's relative, K. Rajeevan.
What does Baby Memorial Hospital say about the incident?
Baby Memorial Hospital has denied negligence, stating that the child suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest immediately after anaesthesia was administered. The hospital says all standard medical protocols were followed and that every effort was made to save the child's life.
What is Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Section 125 of the BNS covers acts that endanger human life or personal safety. It carries a maximum punishment of three months' imprisonment and is the provision under which the anaesthetist has been charged in this case.
What are the risks of anaesthesia in very young children?
Paediatric anaesthesia, particularly in infants and toddlers, carries a higher risk of complications including cardiac and respiratory events compared to older patients. Medical guidelines generally recommend that such procedures be performed only in facilities with dedicated emergency and critical care capabilities for children.
