Second Maternal Death Linked to Post-Cesarean Infection at Bikaner's PBM Hospital

A woman who underwent a cesarean delivery at the government-run PBM Hospital in Bikaner has died after developing a severe kidney infection, becoming the second maternal death in recent days linked to post-delivery complications at the facility and intensifying concerns over healthcare practices and infection control.

The deceased, Sharda Nayak , a resident of Rampura Basti in Bikaner, was admitted to the hospital on June 3 and underwent a C-section on June 4 . According to hospital authorities, she subsequently developed a kidney infection and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on June 5 after her condition deteriorated.

Sharda remained on ventilator support for the past week before succumbing on Sunday evening. Her father, Hiralal Nayak , alleged medical negligence and demanded an impartial investigation into the incident.

“We do not want compensation. The doctors responsible should be punished,” he said, claiming that the family had not received a clear explanation regarding the cause of death.

PBM Hospital Superintendent Dr. B.C. Ghiya said doctors made every effort to save the patient. “Prima facie, multiple organ failure appears to be the cause of death. After the kidneys, other organs also stopped functioning and the patient was being provided oxygen support,” he said.

The death comes just days after Preeti , a resident of Suratgarh, died at the same hospital on June 19. She had been referred from Nagaur and admitted to the ICU after developing a kidney infection. She remained on ventilator support for nearly a month before her death.

Hospital officials revealed that six women who recently delivered babies at PBM Hospital developed kidney infections over the past month . Of them, two women have died, while Imrati and Kamla continue to undergo treatment. The remaining patients are reportedly under medical observation.

The latest death triggered protests by Congress workers outside the mortuary, with demands for accountability and a thorough probe. The back-to-back maternal deaths have raised serious questions about post-operative care, infection management, and patient safety protocols at one of Rajasthan's largest government hospitals.