The death of a 12-year-old boy at the Provincial Hospital in Siraha has sparked protests by his family, who allege medical negligence.

According to the boy’s mother, Sunita Devi Mahara, her son Rajan Ram was taken to the hospital after he fell unconscious at around 10 am on Sunday. He died during treatment later that day.

Hospital sources said doctors diagnosed severe weakness and critically low blood levels and recommended an urgent blood transfusion. They added that the child died before the transfusion could be administered. However, the family claims they were unable to obtain blood from the hospital’s blood bank and received no proper assistance from staff.

“If we had received the blood on time, my son might have survived,” said Sunita.

In protest, the family burnt tyres on the highway outside the hospital, blocking traffic and creating tension in the area.

Hospital chair Surendra Yadav said B-positive blood was available and that preparations for transfusion were underway, but the child’s condition was too critical to be stabilised.