Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered a high-level inquiry into the tragic death of a newborn and the injury of two others inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Monday.
The incident occurred when a newborn admitted for jaundice treatment allegedly fell from a phototherapy bed, leading to the infant’s death, while two other babies sustained serious injuries.
Parents of the deceased child have accused the hospital of negligence, claiming that three infants had been placed on a single bed.
Calling the incident “extremely unfortunate,” CM Sarma announced the formation of a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the lapse. The committee will comprise Additional Chief Secretary L. Sweety Changsan, a representative of the Director of Medical Education (DME), and senior doctors from AIIMS.
The Chief Minister also confirmed that he will visit GMCH at 9 PM tonight to personally review the situation.
Expressing condolences, GMCH Principal Dr. Achyut Chandra Baishya said this was the “first such incident” at the hospital, and termed it an accident.
