Tension gripped the Model Hospital located in Bihar Sharif, the district headquarters of Nalanda in Bihar, following the tragic death of a three-year-old child during medical treatment. Aggrieved family members alleged severe medical negligence, claiming that the duty doctor was absent from the pediatric ward when the child's condition deteriorated. The situation escalated quickly as angry relatives vandalized hospital property and assaulted the working healthcare staff and doctors. In response to the violence, protesting medical professionals suspended all emergency and outpatient department (OPD) operations around 2:00 AM, leaving incoming patients and their families in extreme distress.
Child Admitted for Dehydration Dies During Treatment
According to the details of the incident, a family residing in the Chhoti Pahari neighborhood rushed their three-year-old child to the Model Hospital at approximately 12:00 AM (midnight). The toddler was suffering from acute dehydration and was immediately admitted to the pediatric ward to initiate emergency medical care. Shortly after the initial treatment began, the doctor assigned to the ward stepped out to attend to duties in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU). Tragically, the child passed away a short while later during the ongoing treatment. Convinced that the doctor's absence contributed to the death, the grieving family members began protesting loudly and accused the medical team of dereliction of duty.
Assault on Duty Doctors and Suspension of Services
The grief turned into violent outrage as family members and accompanying individuals began damaging hospital infrastructure and equipment. Dr. Amit Kumar, who was actively treating other critical patients in the emergency ward, was targeted, verbally abused, and physically assaulted by the enraged crowd. Other health workers on duty were also mistreated during the commotion. Shaken by the assault and fearing for their physical safety, the doctors and healthcare personnel collectively decided to halt both emergency and OPD services after 2:00 AM. This abrupt suspension of medical services caused immense hardship to several patients who arrived during the night seeking urgent medical care.
Administrative Intervention and Demand for Security
Upon being alerted to the chaotic scene, police personnel from both Bihar police station and Laheri police station arrived at the hospital campus to restore order and diffuse the rising tension. Later in the morning, senior administrative officials, including the SDO and DSP, visited the premises to assess the situation and hold discussions with the striking staff. SDM Kislay Srivastava confirmed that during the dialogue, doctors reported physical violence against the healthcare staff. Following extensive negotiations, the doctors agreed to resume emergency services at around 11:00 AM in the interest of patient welfare. Hospital Deputy Superintendent Dr. Rajiv Ranjan stated that emergency care was restarted to prevent public inconvenience, although OPD services remained suspended. The medical fraternity has demanded strict legal action against the attackers and the immediate establishment of a permanent police picket inside the hospital campus to ensure safety.
