Woman dies after giving birth to twins in Chanchal; Family alleges medical negligence, protest erupts

A 23-year-old woman named Deepika Das died after delivering twin babies via cesarean section at a private hospital in Chanchal, Malda. The incident led to a large-scale protest by her family and neighbours, who alleged medical negligence by the hospital. The protest took place outside the hospital on Monday night, with the woman’s body and her newborns present at the site.

Deepika Das, a resident of Koligram Dakshinpara under Chanchal police station limits, was admitted to the private hospital with labour pain. She underwent a C-section and gave birth to twins. Shortly after the delivery, her health reportedly deteriorated. She was referred to Kolkata for further treatment and admitted to SSKM Hospital. According to the family, she died there on Sunday night.

Her body was brought back to Chanchal on Monday. Upon arrival, the family and locals gathered in front of the hospital, alleging that the woman’s condition worsened due to medical shortcomings during or after the delivery. They claimed that doctors in Kolkata told them there were lapses in treatment provided at the Chanchal facility.

During the protest, hospital staff including doctors and nurses reportedly locked themselves inside the building. The protest continued for several hours, with the deceased’s family demanding accountability. A large police force was deployed to the area along with personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to maintain order and disperse the crowd.

The protest ended late at night after the intervention of security forces. The woman’s family has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter. Police have received the complaint and are currently examining the allegations. No official statement regarding the cause of death has been issued, and no arrests have been reported.