One more woman died on Saturday and four others were battling for their lives after they were allegedly administered contaminated intravenous fluids in two government hospitals in Jodhpur, where 13 maternal deaths have taken place in last 11 days.
Rajasthan government announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the families of the victims while the tragedy prompted the National Advisory Council headed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to seek an explanation from the health ministry.
Bhavana, 27, died in Mahatama Gandhi Hospital, where she had been shifted from Umaid hospital on Sunday in a critical condition following her delivery, hospital sources said.
Angry relatives of Bhavana staged protest at the hospital and refused to take the body. They demanded that the compensation be raised to Rs 5 lakh.
Industrial minister and incharge of Jodhpur division Rajendra Pareek on Saturday visited the two hospitals and held discussions with doctors and officials.
He announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the families of the women, who had died of haemorrhage post-delivery after they were allegedly administered contaminated intravenous fluids supplied by an Indore based which has been booked.
Four other women, one in MGH and three in Umaid, are in serious condition, the sources said.
Two committees which were probing the incident have submitted their reports. While the six-member panel of SM Medical College had blamed contaminated IV fluid for the deaths, the two-member government committee has suggested a slew of measures for the hospitals amid fears that an infection could also have led to the deaths.
Meanwhile, a four-member police team led by a sub-inspector was in Indore to quiz officials of Parental Surgical India Private Limited and carry out further investigations.
A case was registered under section 328 IPC (causing hurt by means of poison with intent to commit an offence) against Parental Surgical India Private Limited, and a local distributor, for allegedly supplying the contaminated I V fluid.
Madhya Pradesh health officials had on Friday raided the drug company. Umaid hospital superintendent Narendra Changani had said that the administration has registered a complaint against the manufacturing company and the local distributor Anshul Pharam, who supplied the contaminated stock of the I V fluid.
Investigating officer Dhagla Ram had said close to 10,000 bottles of the IV fluid have so far been seized and a report of Forensic Scientific Laboratory is awaited.
"As a precaution, we have kept the main operation theatre and labour room closed for fumigation," said R K Aseri, principal of the S N Medical College.
