Four months after allegedly being administered contaminated saline in the West Bengal government-run Midnapore Medical College, 20-year-old Nasrin Khatun – a new mother – died on Sunday night.
According to her family, her condition had remained critical since the saline administration. She was on dialysis, her heart was failing, and two days before her death, she began experiencing seizures during dialysis. She never regained consciousness and was placed on a ventilator.
The incident dates back to January 2025, when a 31-year-old woman who had delivered a baby on January 8 died the next day at the state-run hospital. Her family alleged that her death was caused by the use of “expired” saline. Three other women, including Nasrin, developed complications after receiving the same saline. The affected women were transferred to SSKM Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on January 12.
“She had been battling for her life after that poisonous saline was given to her,” said Sheikh Zayed, Nasrin’s maternal uncle, to The Indian Express. “For the last two days, she was on ventilation. We were told that her organs had started to fail.”
Nasrin’s mother-in-law, Fateha Bibi, told reporters, “Ten days ago, she was shifted to a general bed and doctors said she was to return home, but then during dialysis she suddenly started having fits, after which she did not regain consciousness. Her kidneys were not working, neither was her heart. We have lost everything. The child will never know what a mother’s care is like. My son’s life is over… We are worried for him as he is also unwell.”
Silence has descended over Keshpur village, where Nasrin lived.
Meanwhile, the other two affected mothers, Mampi Singh and Minara Biwi, had recently been discharged from the hospital.
Following the January incident, a 13-member team from the State Health Department had visited the hospitals amid widespread protests. Family members of the deceased 31-year-old woman filed complaints at Kotwali police station, expressing frustration that action was “only being taken” after the patients had died.
The West Bengal government then issued a directive stating: “All the items procured through SMIS from Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical should not be used even if available… and all existing stocks should be withdrawn.”
As part of the fallout, the government suspended 12 doctors for “medical negligence” related to the use of the expired saline. Compensation of Rs 12 lakh and a government job were announced for the family of the deceased.