Claiming that 29 people lost their lives due to the month-long strike by protesting junior doctors in the state-run hospitals, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced a “token” compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of each of the deceased patients.

“It is sad and unfortunate that we have lost 29 precious lives due to disruption in health services because of the long-drawn cease work by junior doctors… In order to extend a helping hand to the bereaved families, the state government announces a token financial relief of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of each deceased person,” the CM posted on her X handle.

The chief minister’s announcement comes a day after the government’s talks with the protesting junior doctors failed to take off over the issue of live-streaming the meeting.

The junior doctors have, however, dismissed the chief minister’s claim that 29 people lost lives “due to disruption in health services”, saying that senior and resident doctors have been working “round the clock in the OPDs, emergency section, and hospital wards” for the past one month.

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