Jaipur: A preliminary inquiry into the deaths of two postpartum women at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara Saturday found that both fatalities were caused by separate, severe obstetric complications despite emergency treatment by specialist medical teams.Following the probe, Chief Secretary V Srinivas directed the health department to strengthen monitoring of high-risk pregnancies and improve management of anaemia, hypertension, postpartum haemorrhage and referral protocols.The two women died on July 29 after being admitted in critical condition.The inquiry found that 18-year-old Rani Banjara died due to amniotic fluid embolism, a rare obstetric emergency that triggered disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), massive postpartum haemorrhage and hypovolaemic shock.Rani was admitted in active labour at 5.07 pm and delivered a healthy baby girl through a normal delivery at 8.01 pm. Her condition deteriorated soon after childbirth.Doctors administered oxygen, resuscitation, blood transfusions, intravenous fluids, medicines, tranexamic acid and a Bakri balloon to control bleeding before shifting her to the Medical ICU, where she received packed red blood cells, platelets and fresh frozen plasma. Despite intensive treatment, she was declared dead at 11.30 pm.The inquiry found that 21-year-old Sugna Bairwa, a resident of Datla village in Kotri, died of hypovolaemic shock caused by severe anaemia.Referred from the District Hospital in Shahpura, Sugna reached Mahatma Gandhi Hospital at 11.02 pm in an extremely critical condition after delivering a stillborn child. She had reportedly suffered two seizures during transit. Her haemoglobin level was 1.8 g/dL and platelet count 86,000. She arrived pulseless, with critically low blood pressure and gasping for breath.Specialist teams from gynaecology, anaesthesia, medicine and intensive care provided ventilator support, blood and plasma transfusions, life-saving drugs and treatment for postpartum haemorrhage. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated at 12.15 am, but she was declared dead at 1.10 am.After reviewing the inquiry, Srinivas directed officials to intensify surveillance of high-risk pregnancies, strengthen referral systems, and ensure timely intervention in obstetric emergencies. He also reviewed the Prasav Sakhi initiative and spoke with doctors and frontline health workers at Shahpura Community Health Centre to assess treatment protocols and maternal healthcare services.
