BJP criticizes Mamata government after pregnant woman's death

Kolkata

A new controversy has sparked over the competency of West Bengal's health department following the tragic death of a pregnant woman at Medinipur Medical College and Hospital.  , leading to strong criticism from the BJP.

Reports indicate that five pregnant women became critically ill after receiving the expired saline on Friday. Mamoni Ruidas died that same day, while the other four remain in critical condition. Two are on ventilators, one is in the Critical Care Unit (CCU), and the fourth is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Their conditions have not yet stabilized.

The expired saline is said to have come from Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Limited, a company previously banned by both Karnataka and West Bengal. Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, has accused the company of supplying the expired saline.

The state health department has set up a 13-member committee to investigate how expired saline was administered. Adhikari has called for a full investigation by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and questioned whether the company had access to state-run hospitals due to alleged ties with the ruling party. This incident has reignited concerns over similar cases in the state's healthcare system.