Bengaluru: Karnataka is facing outrage following the recent deaths of five more mothers in Raichur and Chitradurga districts. This comes after four maternal deaths were reported in October at the Sindhanur Taluk Government Hospital.
The deceased include Chandrakala (26), Renukamma (32), Mousami Mandal (22), and Channamma (25). In October, out of 300 women who gave birth, seven became critically ill, with four ultimately dying after cesarean sections.
Channamma passed away nine days post-surgery on October 21, while Mousami Mandal died the day after her delivery on October 22. Renukamma, who delivered on October 31, also died the following day. The new mothers were later transferred to the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where they succumbed to their conditions.
The families of the deceased have accused the hospital of medical negligence and are demanding justice and compensation. They have threatened to protest outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi with their newborns if their demands are not met.
Raichur Deputy Commissioner K. Nitish stated that the maternal deaths occurred for various reasons, and an investigation into the potential link to intravenous fluids is underway. He mentioned that the specific batch of Ringer Lactate intravenous fluids used on the deceased mothers has been sent for testing, and the use of products from that West Bengal pharmaceutical company has been halted.
In a related case, Roja (24) from Jaganuruhatti near Challakere died on Tuesday at Chitradurga District Hospital. She had a cesarean delivery on October 30 and returned home after five days. However, she experienced severe abdominal pain and vomiting 40 days later, leading to her readmission and subsequent death. Her family has also alleged negligence on the part of the doctors.
The Karnataka government is preparing to take legal action against the West Bengal pharmaceutical company that supplied the intravenous fluids, which are believed to have contributed to the maternal deaths. A seven-member team that inspected the company is expected to recommend filing four criminal cases, having found harmful substances in the IV fluids. Despite the company’s claim that their product is safe, the recent maternal deaths have raised serious concerns.
Additionally, the Karnataka government has released statistics indicating a decline in maternal deaths from 2019-20 to the present, although the recent incidents have sparked significant public concern. According to data from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) has decreased over the years, with 348 maternal deaths reported in the current fiscal year up to November, resulting in an MMR of 64.