Koraput: Tension gripped Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Koraput after five critically-ill patients died within a span of a few hours late on Tuesday. The toll rose to six with another fatality this morning.
The deceased, hailing from southern Odisha regions like Borigumma, Kalahandi, Semiliguda, and Machhara, were receiving treatment in the ICU and surgery ward. Around 11 pm, three ICU patients—Shukra Majhi, Rukuni Pentia, and Phulmati Majhi—died suddenly, followed by two surgery ward patients, Bhagaban Parija and Bati Khara.
The sudden deaths triggered panic and anger among relatives, prompting Koraput Town Police to intervene and restore calm.
Family members alleged that the three ICU patients, who were recovering post-surgery, died shortly after a staff member administered an injection during the night shift. The distraught family members alleged their health condition deteriorated rapidly after being administered the second injection dose. “A nurse administered injections to three patients on our left before injecting the same to my sister. Within minutes, she started trembling, and by the time doctors came to check on her, she was dead,” relative of a deceased patient told the media.
Police have sent the bodies for postmortem and initiated an investigation.
The dean of the medical college Susanta Kumar Sahu told the media that four among the patients were critical. “Two among them had suffered abdominal injuries, another had liver perforation. We suspect they died due to bleeding and septicemia. The fourth patient was being treated for stage 4 cancer and the fifth was an accident victim, who was referred from Jeypore,” he added.
Responding to allegations being made by the family members, he said that the patients in the ICU were in serious condition and were administered an injection to raise their dropping blood pressure. “A committee will be formed to probe the matter,” he added.
Meanwhile, Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Santosh Mishra said that a 5-member team has been formed to probe the wrong injection allegation, leading to the death of the patients. “The team has been asked to submit the report by tomorrow,” he added.
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