Woman, Newborn Die After Delivery At Rewa Hospital; Two Nursing Officers Suspended

Twenty-five-year-old Kalpana Mishra and her newborn died at Sanjay Gandhi-Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, following the delivery of her first child. Kalpana, a resident of Hatwa in Rewa district, had been admitted to the government hospital on the night of August 25. According to her family, she underwent a C-section at around 8:30 pm on August 26 and delivered a baby. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the mother and child have now prompted a high-level inquiry.

Kalpana’s family has alleged that her condition deteriorated during treatment and that repeated requests for medical attention were not adequately addressed. Her father, Ramsharan Mishra, alleged that he approached doctors several times seeking examination and monitoring of his daughter but did not receive the response he expected. Relatives have also raised questions about the administration of anaesthesia, alleging that Kalpana did not regain consciousness afterward. They have sought accountability from the doctors and hospital staff involved in her treatment.

The deaths led to protests at the hospital, with Kalpana’s relatives gathering near the main gate and staging a sit-in. The family initially opposed the post-mortem examination and demanded action against those they held responsible. Dean Dr Sunil Agrawal and Hospital Superintendent Dr Rahul Mishra subsequently met the relatives in a closed-door discussion that lasted nearly two hours. An agreement was eventually reached for the post-mortem to be conducted by doctors from the District Hospital.

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The hospital administration has taken preliminary disciplinary action while the inquiry continues. Two nursing officers on duty, Sadhana Verma and Seema Mujalde, were suspended on a prima facie basis. A high-level inquiry committee has also been formed to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the allegations raised by the family. Dr Agrawal described the incident as deeply tragic and stated that further action would be taken against anyone found responsible after the inquiry establishes the facts.

Hospital Superintendent Dr Rahul Mishra, however, rejected allegations of negligence by the doctors and maintained that Kalpana had been treated according to medical protocols. He stated that the reason she did not regain consciousness was among the issues being examined as part of the investigation. The hospital administration has maintained that appropriate action will follow if the inquiry establishes any lapse in treatment or responsibility on the part of staff.

The incident has also drawn attention to the wider shortage of medical personnel in Madhya Pradesh’s public healthcare system. Official data for 2025-26 shows that the state has 5,443 sanctioned specialist doctor positions, of which only 1,495 are filled, leaving 3,948 vacant posts. The state also has 6,513 sanctioned medical officer positions, with 2,689 remaining vacant. The inquiry into Kalpana and her newborn’s deaths is expected to determine whether any specific medical or administrative lapse contributed to the tragedy.

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