Newborn Dies During Delivery: Allegations of Negligence at Kalimpong District Hospital

KalimNews, March 11, 2026, Kalimpong : Tension gripped Kalimpong District Hospital on Tuesday following the tragic death of a newborn during a delivery late Monday night, sparking anger and concern among the victim’s family and local civil society groups.

The incident occurred on March 9 around 9:30 pm, when a first-time delivery ended in tragedy. The baby, weighing 4.2 kg, could not be saved. The grieving parents, Stephen Lepcha and Geeta Rai of 8th Mile, Mangbol Busty, Kalimpong, were left devastated.

Geeta Rai had been admitted to the hospital on March 6 and, after waiting for two days for the delivery of their first baby, was placed in the labour room on March 8 due to delays in normal delivery. According to the hospital superintendent, Dr. Saikat Bose, late on March 9, during the delivery process, the baby’s head became stuck. A caesarean operation was performed, but unfortunately, the newborn could not be saved.

The parents have blamed the attending doctor for the tragedy. Stephen Lepcha stated that upon inspection, he noticed one of the baby’s eyes was damaged.

Gynaecologist Dr. Sen, who performed the operation, admitted that he suffers from a neurological disorder that prevents him from standing for more than ten minutes and causes speech problems, although it does not affect his other activities. He emphasized, “Such type of incident never happened here by me.”

A post-mortem was conducted on the baby. 

Dr. Sen explained the sequence of events: “I was in the maternity room when the nurses informed me that the baby's head was stuck, and I was called for help. I tried to use forceps but could not succeed, and the injury may have occurred due to forceps. The baby appeared bluish, and its heart rate was low. We immediately decided to perform a caesarean operation by administering anesthesia and providing oxygen to the mother. During the procedure, we found that the baby was stuck because the umbilical cord was wound twice around its neck, strangling the baby. I took the baby out; the baby was breathing, and I handed it to the nurses, who attempted to revive the baby by regurgitate with the help of another doctor.”

Nereus Mukhia, President of the Kalimpong NGO Network confirmed that allegations against the doctor were valid and noted that similar incidents had occurred previously. He stressed that action must be taken against the doctor to prevent such tragedies in the future. 

“We want a better Kalimpong Hospital so that all people may benefit more,” he said, highlighting the trauma endured by the baby’s mother.

Members of the bereaved family, alongside representatives from the Kalimpong NGO Network, alleged that medical negligence led to the newborn’s death.

Superintendent of Kalimpong District Hospital, Dr. Saikat Bose, expressed deep sorrow over the loss and stated that despite all medical efforts during delivery, the baby could not be saved. Dr. Bose confirmed that the doctor involved has been instructed not to participate in delivery procedures at the hospital until further notice. He also reminded that the hospital had previously maintained a record of “zero maternal death,” demonstrating its commitment to safe childbirth services.

A meeting was held in the superintendent’s chamber to discuss the incident, with another session scheduled for March 17 to decide on further actions to seek justice for the family. Present at the meeting were Nereus Mukhiya (Kalimpong NGO Network), social worker Jyoti Karki, Kalimpong Gram Panchayat Pradhan Tasuthing Lepcha, and members of the victim’s family.

Sinora Namchu, Executive Councillor for the 33 No. constituency, raised serious concerns regarding the doctor’s health. She reported that the doctor suffers from a neurological disorder, affecting his speech and walking for many years, although he reportedly faces no issues while operating. She stressed that the condition has been deteriorating over time and called for a thorough inquiry into why the doctor has not been replaced.

The tragic incident has left the community seeking answers and demanding accountability to prevent similar occurrences in the future.