8 women die, many critical after sterlisation camp in Chhattisgarh

Bilaspur, November 11, 2014 (PTI) Eight women died and  52 have been hospilised due to botched surgeries at a government organised sterlisation camp in  Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district.   Around  60 women were admitted to different  hospitals after they complained of complications following sterlisation surgery at a camp help at a private hospital in Pendari village on outskirts of Bilaspur town on Saturday, Bilaspur Collector Siddharth Komal Pardeshi said today.  "Eight died after their condition deteriorated," Pardeshi told PTI. The deceased were all below 32 years of age. The condition of at least 10 others was stated to be critical, officials said. The state government has constituted a high-level committee to probe the incident and promised strict action againts the guilty. It annouced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the kin of each of the victims.

On November 8, about 83 women had undergone surgeries at the sterilisation camp held at Nemichand Jain Cancer and Research Centre at Pendari village of Takhatpur region. All women were residents of nearby villages. The women were discharged after providing medicines on Saturday night but within 24 hours of the



surgery, most of them complained of vomiting and abdominal pain following which 60 of them were rushed to different hospitals. During treatment, two of them -- Janaki Bai (26) and Dipti Yadav (27) -- who were admitted to Bilaspur district hospital passed away yesterday, he said. Besides, Rekha Nirmalkar, Nembai Suryawanshi, Ranjita, Phool Bai and Chandra Bai, all aged between 22-32 years and admitted to Apollo hospital, died last night after their condition worsened, the Collector said.

The identity of one of the victims is still not known. Preliminary examinations suggested that hypovolemic shock or a septic infection may be the cause of death, Deputy Director, Health Services, Amar Singh said, adding that a detailed autopsy report would reveal the exact reason behind the deaths. "Its a tragic incident. We have announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the family of the deceased," Health and Family Welfare Minister Amar Agrawal told reporters.

An investigation has been ordered into the incident and strict action will be taken against those found guilty, Agrawal said.  Earlier too, people have had to suffer due to lax procedures in health camps in Chhattisgarh.