July 3 (UDN):A 10-month-old baby boy died at Kujanga Community Health Centre (CHC) in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district on Thursday night after allegedly choking on a plastic bottle cap, triggering allegations of medical negligence from the family.
The deceased, identified as Sai Das, was reportedly visiting his maternal home in Guamunda village when the incident occurred. According to family members, the child accidentally swallowed a plastic cap from a soft drink bottle and was immediately taken to Balitutha Medical Centre. He was later referred to Kujanga CHC as the object could not be removed.
At Kujanga CHC, medical staff attempted to revive the child, including performing chest compressions, but were unsuccessful. The family has alleged that despite repeated requests, the attending doctor did not refer the child to a higher medical facility in Cuttack for advanced treatment and instead declared him dead at the CHC.
Following the incident, tension prevailed at the hospital as grieving relatives raised allegations of negligence. Police reached the spot and intervened to restore order.
Hospital authorities have not yet issued any official statement regarding the incident or the allegations made by the family.