Jaipur: Families of women who died in govt hospitals across Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Bhilwara and Banswara since May — many after developing complications linked to caesarean deliveries — have accused hospital authorities of negligence and demanded accountability.Relatives say the similarities in the deaths point to systemic lapses in monitoring and post-operative care in maternity wards. They have called for an impartial inquiry, disclosure of findings, action against those found responsible, compensation for affected families and safeguards to prevent further deaths and restore trust in emergency obstetric services.Manish Pandey, an astrologer from Mangalpur, described losing his wife Isha, 32, after a C-section at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara. Isha was admitted on July 5, delivered a healthy baby boy on July 6 and appeared stable for a day before her condition worsened, Manish said. “I pleaded with the doctors for care, but my pleas were ignored. Doctors do not even visit patients for care outside of their duty rounds. The care of pregnant and new mothers is left to the nurses,” he said. Isha died at 3pm on July 8.In Bikaner, a 4-year-old girl keeps asking for her mother. “Maa kab aayegi?” Bindiya asks her maternal grandfather, Heera Lal, who distracts her with plastic toys because he has no answer.Heera Lal, a labourer in Bikaner, is also grieving his 26-year-old daughter Sharda, who died on June 21 at PBM Hospital after complications following a caesarean delivery performed on June 4. Sharda had delivered a baby boy. The family has since split childcare responsibilities: Bindiya stays with her maternal grandfather while the newborn is with his paternal grandmother.Heera Lal said he staged a 4-day dharna outside PBM Hospital after Sharda’s death, alleging the family has still not been clearly told why her condition deteriorated. He said Sharda was admitted on June 3, underwent surgery the next day and was soon shifted to the ICU. “For three days, she was conscious. After that, she never opened her eyes and was declared dead on June 21,” he said, adding that she complained of blurred vision, her urine output stopped and she was put on dialysis. “We have not been told what happened to her. Who is responsible for her death? Nobody has been held responsible,” he said.The unexplained maternal deaths first drew attention in Kota after 26-year-old Payal Malviya died on May 5 following complications after a caesarean delivery. Her husband, Pawan Malviya, said he still does not know why she died. “All was fine. We were happy and waiting for our first child,” Pawan said. He recalled watching other women in the same ward develop similar complications. “Babies were born, but first my wife was rushed to the ICU, and then other women too. Five died. It was frightening,” he said. Payal was admitted on May 3 and died two days later. He is now feeding their infant son milk powder mixed with water.Another husband, Ravi Nayak, 24, a welding worker, alleged negligence in the death of his wife Jyoti Verma, 20, at New Medical College Hospital in Kota. Jyoti died on May 7 after giving birth on May 4. “Five women died in Kota, but we have not been told the reasons so far,” he said Saturday. He alleged improper insertion of a central line. “It was not done properly, and blood kept coming out of the neck,” Ravi said.At least 18 women have died in a similar pattern in govt hospitals across Kota, Bikaner, Udaipur, Banswara and Bhilwara since May, and they are urging the state govt to act urgently to prevent further maternal deaths.
