Woman dumped by government hospital in West Bengal, dies

A 45-year-old woman, dumped by the wayside at Jagatdal in North 24 Parganas district by an ambulance driver of a state-run hospital where she was admitted for treatment, died at another hospital.

Bani Sharma, who made her living as a maid, had been admitted to state-run BN Bose Hospital at Barrackpore on August 10 with allergic complications, said Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department) of Barrackpore Commissionerate C Sudhakar.

An ambulance driver of the hospital had dumped her on the wayside near her home at Jagatdal the next night, he said. When her visually challenged husband found her missing the next day and complained to the hospital officials, he was told by the ward master that she was missing and a diary had been lodged with the police. 

As the news spread, a road blockade was held on the arterial B T Road connecting the city to the northern suburbs on August 11 which was withdrawn after the local police promised an inquiry.

On proning the matter, it was found that the woman had been admitted to Bhatpara government hospital by the people who had found her lying on the road at Jagatdal.
State Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya visited the woman and following her intervention, she was admitted to the Belle Vue Nursing Home and Clinic in the city for better treatment. She died there last night, Sudhakar said. The ambulance driver was arrested, he added.

Hospital superintendent Mridul Ghosh was suspended in connection with the incident on August 15, authorities said.