Post News Network
Puri, August 14: Tension erupted on the premises of the district headquarters hospital here Sunday following the death of a section mechanical engineer with Indian Railways due to alleged medical negligence.
The deceased was identified as Ramchandra Murmu, who was posted as a section mechanical engineer at the Puri coaching depot of East Coast Railway (ECoR).
Sources said Murmu complained of chest pain in the morning, following which his family members rushed him to the district headquarters hospital. He was admitted to the medicine ward of the hospital at around 7:30 AM. He died at 8 AM.
With Murmu’s family members alleging that his death was caused due to negligence of the doctors and nurses on duty, there was tension on the hospital premises. Later, a string of railway employees and members of East Coast Railway Labour Union (ECRLU) reached the hospital and blamed the doctors for Murmu’s death.
“Murmu was having breathing problems. Although he pleaded with the nurse on duty to give him oxygen, she did not pay heed to his request and said a doctor would come and treat him. After repeated requests, he was administered oxygen, but he died,” said ECRLU state secretary BN Gocchayat.
The doctor, Sushant Jena, however, brushed aside the allegations. “The patient was suffering from acute chest pain when he was brought to the hospital. He was given oxygen immediately after he complained of breathing problems, but he died. There was no negligence on our part in treating him,” Jena said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of railway employees gheraoed the coaching depot alleging such incidents are happening due to lack of medical facilities for railway employees. Coaching depot officer DP Mishra admitted the lack of medical facilities for railway employees. “There is a lack of facilities here except for preliminary treatment. I have discussed the matter with Khurda Road division regional manager,” Mishra added.
The hospital premises remained tense following Murmu’s death. Kumbharpada police deployed a platoon of force on the hospital premises to bring the situation under control.
