Imagine the unbearable pain of losing your newborn because of heartless delays at a hospital. In Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, Vipin Gupta lived this nightmare on August 23, 2025. In a shocking case now gripping the nation, the grieving father carried his infant’s lifeless body in a handbag to the district magistrate’s office, demanding justice for alleged negligence at Goldar Hospital. The hospital has since been sealed, sparking widespread outrage and urgent calls for reform in maternal healthcare across India.
Vipin Gupta, like any expecting dad, hoped for a safe delivery when he took his wife to Goldar Hospital. The staff started with a quote: Rs. 10,000 for a normal delivery or Rs. 12,000 for a C-section procedure. However, as her labor pains worsened, the costs continued to climb.
According to Gupta, the hospital raised the fee multiple times and ultimately demanded Rs. 50,000 before proceeding with the surgery. By 2:30 a.m., Gupta pulled together money and pleaded with the doctors to start the operation. He even suggested moving her to another facility if they couldn’t handle it. But they allegedly demanded full payment first, causing a fatal delay.
In the end, the newborn did not survive. Gupta also alleged that the hospital staff forced his wife to leave immediately after the delivery, despite her weak condition.
“I had to carry my dead baby in a bag,” he shared in a tearful chat with ANI, turning to officials for help in this case of newborn death due to hospital negligence.
Officials didn’t waste time. The District Magistrate ordered a deep dive into the claims of doctor’s negligence and sealed Goldar Hospital. Chief Medical Officer Santosh Gupta headed to the site to collect facts, while other patients were moved to the safer District Women’s Hospital. Additionally, District Magistrate AK Rastogi visited Srijan Hospital to check on Gupta’s wife to make sure she gets the best care possible.
District Magistrate AK Rastogi later visited Srijan Hospital, where Vipin Gupta’s wife was admitted, to ensure that she received proper treatment and support.
Authorities confirmed that a three-member medical team has been formed to conduct a detailed probe into the matter, and strict action will be taken if negligence is established.
The DM’s team shared on social media: “We’re right here with the family hit by this tragedy.”
(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM)