26 year old Indu Sahu, four months pregnant, died after receiving an injection at a village clinic in Balodabazar, Chhattisgarh.
The practitioner, Jayant Sahu, admitted he has no medical degree and has practiced for 17 years.
Indu collapsed within 15 to 20 minutes of the injection and was declared dead on arrival at CHC Palaria.
Froth and blood were observed from her nose, but the family refused a postmortem.
No FIR has been filed, and the incident has raised concerns about illegal medical practice in rural areas.
Balodabazar, Chhattisgarh: A 26 year old pregnant woman died under suspicious circumstances after receiving treatment at an unqualified practitioner’s clinic in Balodabazar district, raising serious concerns about illegal medical practices in rural Chhattisgarh.
The deceased, Indu Sahu, was four months pregnant and lived in Chherkadih Jara village with her husband Ajay Sahu and their two year old son. Married in 2022, Indu was expecting her second child when she fell ill earlier this week.
According to family members, Indu developed symptoms of cold and cough on Thursday morning and went to a local clinic for treatment. When the clinic operator was not present, she returned home. Later, after learning he had come back, she revisited the clinic.
The clinic was run by Jayant Sahu, a local sarpanch who has been treating villagers despite lacking a formal medical qualification. After examining her, he reportedly administered an injection.
Within 15 to 20 minutes, Indu’s condition worsened. Witnesses said she began vomiting, lost consciousness and collapsed on the floor.
Jayant Sahu later admitted that he does not hold any medical degree. He claimed that Indu had complained of cold, cough and chest pain but said he could not treat her fully because she had not eaten. He stated that he gave her water and later referred her to Community Health Centre Palaria after her condition deteriorated.
He reportedly acknowledged that he has been practicing in the village for approximately 17 years without formal medical training.
At CHC Palaria, medical officer Dr Pankaj Verma declared Indu dead on arrival. He observed froth and blood coming from her nose, indicating a severe internal episode.
Despite the suspicious circumstances, the family declined a postmortem examination and submitted written consent to take the body home. Authorities released the body, and her cremation was conducted the same day.
No formal police complaint or FIR has been registered so far.
Indu’s mother in law, Kanti Sahu, said she found her daughter in law unconscious after the treatment and believes the injection led to her death.
(Rh/ARC)
