Rajasthan: 25-year-old mother dies hours after delivery, family cries foul

A 25-year-old woman died within hours of delivering a baby at Bundi District Government Hospital on Sunday morning after developing sudden medical complications, with her family alleging medical negligence. The deceased was identified as Nisha Meena, wife of Jagdish Meena, a resident of Dhanatri village.

Principal medical officer Dr L.N. Meena, however, denied allegations of negligence, saying despite efforts by the medical team, the woman could not be revived.

The doctor said Nisha had been admitted to the hospital on Friday, 7 August and was initially advised a surgical delivery because of obstructed labour. However, after her family requested a normal delivery, her treatment proceeded accordingly, Dr Meena said.

Nisha delivered the baby around 11.00 am on Sunday, but shortly afterwards, both mother and newborn showed signs of rapid deterioration. Within an hour, Nisha complained of severe chest pain and collapsed as her condition became critical, the doctor said.

Her cause of death is suspected to be amniotic fluid embolism, a rare and potentially fatal obstetric emergency. It occurs when amniotic fluid or fetal material enters the mother's bloodstream and can lead to severe pulmonary complications, sudden cardiovascular collapse and heart failure, acting PMO Govind Gupta said.

The newborn was referred to Kota's J.K. Lone Hospital.

Following the incident, the hospital administration immediately transferred all labour-room nursing and support staff who were on duty at the time. A formal inquiry has been ordered, while a mandatory maternal death audit involving three gynaecologists will be conducted to establish the exact sequence of events, two hospital officials said.

Family members and villagers, meanwhile, created a ruckus on the hospital premises, alleging negligence, and stopped the ambulance carrying Nisha's body to the mortuary. Senior officials and police personnel rushed to the spot and tried to persuade the family to allow a fair investigation into the death. Following a post-mortem conducted in the presence of administrative officials, the body was handed over to the family and taken to her village in an ambulance.

The death comes amid heightened scrutiny of maternal healthcare in Rajasthan following a series of deaths in government hospitals across the state since May. At least 20 women had died after childbirth in government hospitals across several districts by 20 July, according to reports, with the cases prompting multiple inquiries and a statewide review of maternity care.

Nine of those deaths occurred in Bhilwara and Banswara over just six days between 5 and 10 July, taking the reported toll to 18 at the time. The deaths prompted the state government to send expert teams to the affected districts and investigate possible lapses in treatment, infection control and emergency care.

The reported deaths have involved a range of complications, including excessive bleeding, rapid deterioration and kidney failure. Authorities have not established a single common cause, while Rajasthan health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar has denied that medical negligence was responsible for the deaths.

The state government has since taken measures aimed at strengthening emergency maternal care. On 23 July, it ordered government and private blood centres to provide blood and blood components to pregnant women without insisting on replacement donors, citing the need to prevent delays during obstetric emergencies.

The National Human Rights Commission has also sought action from the Rajasthan government over allegations that substandard oxytocin injections were linked to maternal deaths and injuries in Kota.