Baripada, Oct. 6: A nurse of the district headquarters hospital in Mayurbhanj was suspended today for allegedly not attending to a 25-year-old woman, who was having labour pain.

Yesterday, the expecting mother and her child died. Later, her family members alleged that the nurse had assaulted the woman for constantly complaining about her pain.

The victim, Debjani Singh of Kainsali village at Badasahi, was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after she complained of labour pain. She died moments after delivering a dead male child yesterday.

Debjani's family members said she, along with the newborn, died due to excess bleeding after Chanchala Dash, the nurse on duty, assaulted her. They also accused Kalpana Dey, another nurse who was on duty on Sunday night, of maltreatment. Her family members said Kalpana, too, had mistreated the expecting mother.

Chief district medical officer Chandan Murmu said: "The nurse is under suspension. Preliminary investigations suggest that the woman was having high blood pressure. That could have resulted in her death. A departmental inquiry has been initiated. It will also probe the conduct of the nurse."

After the news of the woman's death spread, local residents gathered outside Murmu's office and refused to take the body.

The district administration, however, promised them to take action against the erring nurse. After autopsy, the body was handed over to the family.

The district administration also paid Rs 10,000 as ex gratia to Debjani's family members. It also promised to bear all expenses of Debjani's six-year-old daughter.