Lucknow: A 30-year-old woman and her newborn died after receiving treatment at an illegal facility allegedly operating from a room attached to a medical store in Rampur Mathura in Sitapur, triggering a protest and prompting action by district health authorities.The woman, identified as Savitri, wife of Ashok and a resident of Basavanpur village, was taken to a private centre near Parvatpur crossing on Thursday after she went into labour. Her family alleged the facility was being run illegally by Ajeet Singh, described by them as a quack, under the cover of Vidya Medical Store.Family members said the newborn died during treatment at the centre, blaming negligence. They alleged that even as Savitri’s condition deteriorated, the operator did not refer her to a higher medical facility in time. She was later shifted by relatives to a govt hospital and then referred to Lucknow for specialised care, where she died on Friday.After her death, relatives and local residents staged a road blockade at Parvatpur crossing, placing the body on the road and demanding strict action. Traffic was disrupted until officials arrived and intervened.Sub-divisional magistrate Abhishek Priyadarshi and circle officer Ved Prakash reached the spot and assured the protesters of a fair investigation, after which the blockade was lifted.On the district magistrate’s directions, a joint inspection was conducted by Deputy CMO Dr Imran and the SDM. Officials said they found an unauthorised hospital being run from a room adjacent to Vidya Medical Store without required registration or licence, along with a lack of essential equipment and infrastructure. Ajeet Singh allegedly fled before the team arrived, and the premises were sealed.Police registered an FIR against Ajeet Singh, staff nurse Pushpa Devi and two others for medical negligence and illegally operating the facility.
