Tragic Death of Rape Victim Sparks Outrage Over Hospital Response
Family's Allegations of Negligence
The family of a minor girl, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained from a rape incident on May 26, has accused the authorities of making her wait for hours in an ambulance before she was finally admitted to Patna Medical College Hospital. Reports indicate that the girl passed away on Sunday due to her injuries.
Hospital officials, however, have defended their actions, asserting that they responded promptly once they were made aware of the situation.
Details of the Incident
According to the girl's uncle, the family arrived at Patna Medical College Hospital from another facility on Saturday. He recounted that the emergency department staff claimed there was no available space and redirected them to other wards. After being turned away from multiple locations, they were eventually sent to the pediatric department, where the girl remained in the ambulance for several hours.
It was only after intervention from local politicians that she was admitted around 5 PM on Saturday, but sadly, she passed away the following morning.
Political Response and Hospital Claims
Rajesh Ram, the chief of the Congress party's Bihar unit, along with party members, arrived at the hospital while the girl was still waiting in the ambulance. He attempted to reach out to the state Health Minister, Mangal Pandey, but reported that his calls went unanswered.
Another Congress leader, Rajesh Rathorre, stated that the minor had been referred from Sri Krishna Medical College in Muzaffarpur to Patna Medical College Hospital. He claimed that the family arrived around 11 AM on Saturday, but it took over four hours for the hospital to provide a bed, with admission occurring after 3 PM.
Hospital's Defense
Medical Superintendent Indrashekhar Thakur refuted claims of negligence, stating that the girl was brought to the hospital's central emergency unit at 1:23 PM. He explained that doctors recommended she be taken to the ear, nose, and throat department. Despite being on leave, he ensured that the acting superintendent was informed and that the patient was attended to promptly.
Thakur noted that the girl had sustained multiple injuries, including a throat injury, and had been sexually assaulted. A decision was made to transfer her to the gynecology department due to the lack of ICU facilities in the ENT department. He emphasized that the hospital administration acted swiftly and that the allegations of neglect were unfounded.
Details of the Assault
The girl was reportedly raped in Muzaffarpur district on May 26. Authorities identified a man named Rohit Kumar Sahni as the perpetrator, who allegedly lured her away with promises of snacks before assaulting her and inflicting severe injuries. She was discovered near a pond later that evening, and Sahni was arrested the same night.
Muzaffarpur Rural Superintendent of Police Vidya Sagar confirmed that the victim had multiple injuries and was unable to speak due to the throat cut but managed to communicate her ordeal to relatives through gestures. Initial investigations revealed that the accused had a history of similar offenses.