Malkangiri: An eight-month pregnant woman died at the Malkangiri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) on Wednesday, with her family alleging a delay in medical care and raising questions over the treatment provided.
The deceased has been identified as Bandana Mandal, a resident of MV-43 village in Malkangiri district.
According to the family, Bandana fell ill late Tuesday night after they suspected a snake had entered their house. She was immediately taken to Malkangiri DHH for treatment.
The patient was examined by doctors, who initially did not find any visible signs of a snakebite. She was treated symptomatically for vomiting and related complaints. However, as the family repeatedly insisted on a possible snakebite, an anti-snake venom injection was administered as a precaution.
Despite treatment, her condition reportedly deteriorated during the night, and she died in the early hours of Wednesday.
Following her death, tension prevailed at the hospital as family members and locals staged a protest alleging delays in treatment and negligence. The situation turned tense, with reports of a doctor being assaulted and his shirt torn during the commotion.
Speaking to reporters, the deceased woman’s brother alleged that the patient was first advised basic treatment and later sent home due to a lack of beds, after which her condition worsened. He demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, the attending doctor, Dr. Siddharth, said the patient was given anti-snake venom as a precautionary measure after suspected symptoms were reported. He added that her condition suddenly deteriorated despite medical intervention and that she was declared dead around 6 a.m. The doctor also alleged that he was assaulted by a group of locals following the incident.
On receiving the information, police reached the spot, brought the situation under control, and launched an investigation into the incident.
