Pune Hospital Probed After Couple’s Transplant Deaths

A tragic incident at Sahyadri Hospital in Pune has sparked outrage after a couple, Bapu and Kamini Komkar, died following a liver transplant procedure, prompting the Maharashtra health department to issue a notice to the hospital on August 24, 2025. The case has raised serious questions about medical protocols and patient safety, with the couple’s family alleging negligence and demanding a thorough investigation.

Bapu Komkar, the recipient, underwent the transplant on August 15, 2025, with his wife, Kamini, donating a portion of her liver. According to hospital records, Bapu, identified as a high-risk patient with multiple complications, suffered cardiogenic shock post-surgery and passed away on August 17. Kamini, who initially recovered well, developed a severe infection leading to septic shock and multi-organ dysfunction, succumbing on August 21. The health department, led by Deputy Director Dr. Nagnath Yempalle, has demanded detailed records, including video recordings, treatment protocols, and patient consent forms, by 10 AM on August 25.

The Komkar family claims the hospital failed to manage post-operative care adequately, accusing the facility of medical negligence. “We trusted the hospital to save Bapu, but we lost both him and Kamini,” a relative told local media in Pune on August 22, 2025. The family’s grief has fueled public concern, with posts on X questioning the safety of complex surgeries in private hospitals and calling for stricter oversight.

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Sahyadri Hospital, in a statement issued on August 24, expressed deep sympathy for the Komkar family and defended its procedures. “A living donor liver transplant is one of the most complex procedures, and the patient was a high-risk individual with many complications,” the hospital said. It emphasized that both Bapu and Kamini were fully counseled about the risks, and the surgeries adhered to standard medical protocols. Despite efforts to revive Bapu and treat Kamini’s infection, both outcomes were “unfortunate,” the hospital added, pledging full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

The health department’s probe will examine whether lapses in care or protocol contributed to the deaths. This incident follows a similar case in Mumbai in 2023, where a transplant patient’s death led to stricter regulations. As Pune mourns the loss, the investigation’s findings could have far-reaching implications for transplant protocols across Maharashtra’s private healthcare sector.

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