Family members of Rashmita Sahu mourn her death in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 10: Tension prevailed at SCB Medical College and Hospital after a woman allegedly died after falling off a bed in the labour room of the gynaecology ward today.

The deceased, 25-year-old Rashmita Sahu of Jajpur, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday after she complained of labour pain. Alleging negligence in treatment, her family members staged a protest in front of the labour room today.

Family members of Rashmita said she was rushed to the labour room after she complained of pain around 10am. She gave birth to a stillborn baby boy at 11.30pm yesterday.

“My wife was suffering from jaundice and had given birth to a stillborn child. The doctors left her inside the labour room and did not allow any female attendant to take care of her. That is why my wife died after falling off the bed,” said Mahesh Sahu, 28, husband.

The family members alleged that Rashmita could have been saved if the doctors had attended to her on time after she fell off the bed.

“People from different parts of the state visit SCB Medical College and Hospital for better facilities and treatment. But the callous attitude of the authorities here is leading to such incidents,” said Nityananda Sahu, Rashmita’s father. SCB hospital officials, however, said the woman did not die as a result of falling off the bed. “The condition of the patient was critical and she was also suffering from jaundice. After repeated convulsions, the patient died of suspected cardiac arrest,” said emergency officer B.N. Moharana.