9 deaths in 6 days, 18 since May: A wave of maternal deaths in Rajasthan that no one is talking about
NEW DELHI: A series of maternal deaths in Rajasthan's government hospitals has once again put the state's public healthcare system under scrutiny, with nine women dying in Bhilwara and Banswara within just six days. The latest fatalities have taken the total number of maternal deaths reported from government hospitals in five districts since May to 18, raising serious questions over patient safety, accountability and the quality of maternal healthcare.While Rajasthan is grappling with repeated deaths linked to childbirth and post-operative complications, the situation presents a different picture in Mumbai and Delhi.
Mumbai has reported fluctuating maternal mortality despite improvements in infant survival, largely due to the burden of high-risk referral cases, while Delhi has achieved better newborn survival but witnessed a rise in maternal mortality over the past decade despite a sharp increase in institutional deliveries.
Nine fresh maternal deaths trigger fresh investigationsBetween July 5 and July 10, 2026 five women died at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara, while four others, including a minor girl, lost their lives at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Banswara.The latest incidents follow similar maternal deaths reported earlier this year in Kota, Bikaner and Jodhpur, taking the total number of deaths across the five districts to 18.Following the fresh deaths, the Rajasthan government sent expert medical teams from Jaipur to Bhilwara and Banswara to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatalities.
In Bhilwara, the deceased included three women who had undergone caesarean deliveries, one pregnant woman and another patient who had undergone planned gynaecological surgery.Bhilwara chief Medical and Health Officer Arun Gaud attributed the deaths to multiple medical factors, including severe anaemia and pre-existing health conditions.A six-member committee of senior doctors has been constituted to examine every case in detail."Pooja Gangrade, principal of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Medical College, which oversees Bhilwara's Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, said, "A micro-level discussion was held on the reasons for the deaths… and the conclusion was that, prima facie, two deaths were due to cardiac arrest and the third due to lung problems.
The fourth pregnant woman did not undergo any operation."Banswara deaths under separate probeA similar review has begun in neighbouring Banswara after four patients died between July 7 and July 10.The district administration formed a five-member enquiry committee after two women died shortly after giving birth on July 10.
Officials said both women reportedly suffered from severe anaemia and high blood pressure.District Collector Indrajit Yadav, who is heading the enquiry, said, “So far, no issue, such as a reaction to medicines, has come to light.”Among those who died was an unmarried minor girl whose health reportedly deteriorated during an abortion in a rural area before she was shifted to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in critical condition.
She died on July 7.Banswara CMHO Khushpal Singh Rathore said, “Initial investigations revealed that the deaths were related to previous medical complications… Prima facie, the cause of death appears to be a sudden drop in vitals.”Questions over healthcare systemThe repeated maternal deaths across different districts have intensified concerns over the functioning of Rajasthan's government hospitals and maternal healthcare services.Families have questioned why women suffering from severe anaemia and other complications were not monitored more closely and whether adequate treatment was provided before and after childbirth.The incidents have also raised wider concerns about the effectiveness of maternal health programmes and emergency obstetric care in public hospitals.Government promises detailed investigationHealth Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said the government was treating the matter with utmost seriousness and had already deployed specialist teams to investigate every case.According to the minister, the expert teams will examine treatment protocols, the quality of medicines, infection control measures inside operation theatres, medical equipment and post-operative monitoring before submitting their reports.He described the deaths as "extremely sad and unfortunate" and assured that the enquiry would be transparent.Khimsar also rejected suggestions that operation theatre infections had caused the Bhilwara deaths.Citing the preliminary findings, he said none of the five deaths shared a common cause.According to the health department, the reported causes included myocardial infarction, hypovolaemic shock, pulmonary thromboembolism, HELLP syndrome associated with severe pregnancy-induced hypertension and postpartum haemorrhage with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).The minister said no operation theatre infection had been confirmed.He added that Operation Theatre No. 2 at Bhilwara Hospital was cultured on June 29.
After the culture report returned positive on June 30, the theatre was immediately closed as a precaution and has not been used for surgeries since then.Previous investigation still awaits public releaseThe latest controversy comes even as an earlier report into the maternal deaths in Kota has still not been made public.Five women died between May 5 and May 17, 2026 after undergoing caesarean deliveries at New Medical College Hospital in Kota.The investigation was conducted jointly by experts from AIIMS Delhi, SMS Medical College Jaipur and Kota Medical College.Although the report has already been submitted to the Rajasthan government, Health Minister Khimsar said it would undergo further review by senior gynaecologists and other medical experts before being released publicly.He said the report points to multiple medical and procedural factors rather than identifying one single cause for all the deaths.The continued delay in releasing the findings has fuelled demands for greater transparency and accountability from both the families of the victims and the opposition.Opposition targets government over maternal deathsThe fresh deaths have intensified the political battle in Rajasthan, with opposition leaders accusing the BJP government of failing to protect women seeking treatment in government hospitals.Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot described the situation as "alarming" and alleged gross negligence after reports claimed that caesarean surgeries continued despite a positive infection report from an operation theatre.
He also pointed to an alleged shortage of surgical equipment at Bhilwara Hospital, claiming that only five surgical sets were available for 30 to 40 operations. Gehlot urged the Union Health Ministry to send an expert team to assess the condition of government hospitals across the state.In a post on X, he questioned the government's handling of the crisis, saying, "Has the BJP govt left Rajasthan to God's mercy?
Such incidents coming to light one after another show that the state govt is not bothered by all this."Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully also criticised the government, describing the state's healthcare system as being "on ventilator". Accusing the administration of "criminal negligence and insensitivity", he demanded accountability from chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.In his social media post, Jully wrote, "Give an answer to the people of the state: Why have you left them to the mercy of God?"Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal echoed similar concerns, alleging that Rajasthan's deteriorating public healthcare system was continuing to claim the lives of mothers.Calling the continuation of surgeries amid reported safety concerns a "gross failure of the system", Beniwal questioned the role of the health department, asking, "Has the responsibility of the health department been reduced merely to issuing statements?"While opposition leaders strongly criticised the government over the deaths in Bhilwara, Kota and Bikaner, the report noted that many of them did not mention the deaths of tribal women reported from Banswara.Families demand answersFor the families who lost loved ones, official enquiries have done little to ease their grief.Relatives of women who died in government hospitals across Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Bhilwara and Banswara alleged negligence and demanded accountability from hospital authorities.
Many believe the similarities in the deaths indicate deeper problems in post-operative monitoring and maternity care.They have called for an independent investigation, the public release of enquiry reports, action against those found responsible, compensation for affected families and stronger safeguards to prevent similar tragedies.Manish Pandey, whose wife Isha Pandey died after a caesarean delivery at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara, said she had appeared stable after giving birth before her condition suddenly deteriorated.Recalling the events, he said, "I pleaded with the doctors for care, but my pleas were ignored.
Doctors do not even visit patients for care outside of their duty rounds. The care of pregnant and new mothers is left to the nurses."In Bikaner, four-year-old Bindiya continues asking when her mother will return.Her grandfather, Heera Lal, is still mourning the death of his 26-year-old daughter Sharda, who died after complications following a caesarean delivery at PBM Hospital.He said the family had never received a clear explanation about what caused her condition to worsen."For three days, she was conscious.
After that, she never opened her eyes and was declared dead on June 21," he said.In Kota, Payal Malviya's husband, Pawan Malviya, said he still does not know why his wife died after delivering their first child."All was fine. We were happy and waiting for our first child," he said, recalling how several women in the same ward developed similar complications."Babies were born, but first my wife was rushed to the ICU, and then other women too.
Five died. It was frightening."Another grieving husband, Ravi Nayak, alleged negligence in the death of his wife Jyoti Verma."Five women died in Kota, but we have not been told the reasons so far," he said, alleging that a central line had not been inserted properly. Mumbai reports different challengeWhile Rajasthan struggles with repeated maternal deaths in government hospitals, Mumbai presents a different picture.Data obtained through the Right to Information Act shows that neonatal and infant deaths in the city have steadily declined over recent years.
However, maternal mortality has remained inconsistent.Between 2022 and 2024, Mumbai recorded between 70 and 93 maternal deaths every year, taking the total to 325 deaths over four years.Health officials said nearly half of these women had been referred from neighbouring districts, including Thane, Palghar and other parts of Maharashtra, after developing severe complications.Officials said Mumbai's maternal mortality ratio remains below the Sustainable Development Goal target when only city residents are counted.
However, the ratio increases significantly after referral patients are included.Doctors said many women arrive at tertiary hospitals in critical condition with serious illnesses, including heart disease, placenta-related complications, severe blood loss and monsoon-related infections such as leptospirosis, dengue, malaria and hepatitis.Dr Nikhil Datar said non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, have also increased pregnancy risks.He added that many deaths could still be prevented if high-risk pregnancies were referred to advanced hospitals earlier."Low-risk pregnancies are often managed by tertiary hospitals, both public and private, while high-risk pregnancies are sometimes handled by smaller maternity or nursing homes.
Referrals to tertiary care centres, where there are enough resources to manage complications, often do not happen early enough because of various reasons. By the time the referral is made, it is frequently too late," said Dr Datar.Delhi improves newborn survival but maternal mortality risesDelhi has recorded better survival rates among newborns over the past decade, but maternal mortality has moved in the opposite direction.According to the Delhi State Indicator Framework: Status Report 2025, neonatal mortality declined from 15.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2015 to 14.1 in 2024.However, the maternal mortality ratio increased from 37 to 44 deaths per one lakh live births during the same period despite institutional deliveries rising from 84.4% to 96.1%.Health experts said improvements in primary healthcare, antenatal services and postnatal follow-up remain essential.Dr Sumit Chakravarty said, "We need better primary health care, timely antenatal care and quality postnatal follow-up care.
There is a need for more sustained investment in maternal and child health, capacity building in workforce and infrastructure and equitable access to health services. Such deaths are preventable and could be substantially reduced through timely policy action and rapid implementation. A safe start to life should be a right for every mother and child, and this must continue to be a national public health priority."Common concernAlthough Rajasthan, Mumbai and Delhi face different healthcare realities, the figures highlight a common challenge—ensuring that pregnancy and childbirth remain safe for every woman.While Rajasthan continues to investigate repeated maternal deaths in government hospitals, Mumbai is struggling with complex referral cases and Delhi is attempting to reverse a gradual rise in maternal mortality despite improvements in institutional deliveries.For grieving families, however, statistics and enquiries mean little without clear answers, accountability and meaningful reforms that prevent similar tragedies in the future.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Jaipur | Silver Rate in Jaipur | Bank Holidays in Jaipur | Public Holidays in Jaipur | Jaipur AQI | Weather in Jaipur | Petrol Price in Jaipur | Diesel Price in Jaipur | CNG Price in Jaipur | LPG Price in JaipurStay updated with the latest Jaipur news.
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