BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 15th June 2025: Despite repeated assurances of improved healthcare under the so-called “double engine government,” a tragic incident at Dharmanagar District Hospital has once again cast a harsh spotlight on Tripura’s crumbling health infrastructure.
Report said that on Saturday, a patient died allegedly due to medical negligence, triggering widespread public outrage and protests.
The deceased, Shukla Das, a resident of Lalchara in Dhupirbandh village, was admitted to the district hospital early Saturday morning with acute stomach pain.
According to family members, repeated pleas for immediate treatment were ignored, despite the seriousness of her condition being evident.
Shocking allegations have emerged against the surgical team. Although Das was admitted to the surgery ward, the designated surgeon, Dr. Shubendu Bhattacharya, reportedly did not visit the patient even once throughout the day. Instead, he allegedly communicated only via phone, even as the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate.
“I waited for ten long hours, hoping someone would attend to my mother,” said Amal Das, the grieving son. “No treatment was provided. If the doctor had come, maybe she would still be alive. If he didn’t have time, she could have been referred elsewhere.”
On-duty physician Dr. Shekhar Sarkar admitted he had seen the patient twice but claimed that since it was a surgical case, he was awaiting instructions from the surgeon in charge.
The incident has sparked serious questions about the chain of responsibility in emergency cases. Health experts and members of the public argue that rigid adherence to hierarchy, even in life-threatening situations, amounts to criminal negligence.
The news of the patient’s death led to protests inside the hospital premises. Several relatives of other patients joined in, demanding accountability. Police arrived at the scene, recovered the body for autopsy, and handed it over to the family on Sunday.
Experts have condemned the incident as not merely an isolated case of negligence, but a disturbing reflection of systemic failure in Tripura’s public health system. Despite tall claims of progress under central and state collaboration, the state of district hospitals paints a grim picture of administrative apathy and medical irresponsibility.
As of now, the health department has not issued any official statement. However, sources confirm that an internal inquiry into the incident has been initiated.
