Dhangadhi-based Seti Zonal Hospital remained tense throughout Friday due to the protest over the death of a new mother. Rekha Thapa, 20, of Jugeda, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, who gave birth to a child three days ago at the hospital, died on her way to another hospital after the doctors at the hospital referred her to Kohalpur.

Kith and kin of the deceased woman picketed the hospital and chanted slogans arguing that Rekha died due to sheer negligence on the part of doctors and paramedics of the hospital.

According to Medical Superintendent of Seti Zonal Hospital Dr Hem Raj Pandey, the doctors at the hospital referred Thapa to Kohalpur after her condition deteriorated on the third day of delivery. “Doctors had conducted caesarian operation on Thapa three days ago. There was no complication after she was operated. She was sent to another hospital after she was diagnosed with jaundice on Thursday,” Pandey told the Post.  

Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel were deployed at the hospital after the situation turned worse.

Jaya Bahadur Thapa, husband of Rekha, said his wife died due to negligence of the doctors.

“Rekha was in a normal condition when she was admitted to the hospital on March 17. On the second day, doctors told us that she had to undergo operation for child delivery,” said Thapa, adding, “Doctors had been telling us that her condition was normal. But later they told us to take her to Kohalpur saying they could not treat her in the hospital.”