A mob vandalised Kursela primary health centre on Tuesday after a girl died owing to the doctor’s alleged negligence.

The deceased, Gudia Kumari (18), was a resident of Purani Bazaar. Gudia was brought to the hospital around 6am by her relatives believing a snake had bitten her.

According to her kin, she was administered an anti-venom drug by Dr Dhurendra Singh, without verifying if she had been bitten by a venomous snake or not.

Dr Singh refuted the allegations and said necessary examinations were conducted.

The body was sent to Katihar for a post-mortem. The district health administration immediately swung into action and transferred Dr Singh from the PHC.

Civil surgeon Dr Subhash Chandra Paswan defended Singh and claimed that he tried his best to save the girl.

Dr Paswan also rubbished allegations levelled by the deceased’s family that she had been administered anti-venom drug without checking the patient. “Such allegations are baseless,” he claimed.

On the possibility of death owing to use of anti-venom injection, Dr Chitranjan Rai, head of department, preventive and social management, Darbhanga Medical College, said: “Such injection could prove fatal if administered to a person who has not been bitten by a poisonous snake.”

The police have not registered a case in connection with the death. “How can we blame anybody now? Let the post-mortem report arrive. Only then would the police decide course of investigation,” Kursela police station house officer Anoj Kumar said.