In a highly tragic incident, a newlywed woman, who was suffering from Covid-19, succumbed to the virus as her family members were unable to get her admitted to any hospital in the State capital on Saturday.
Swarnalata Pal (25) had married Bishnu Charan Bhol of Indolakusiari village under Kurunjipur panchayat of Khordha district on April 28.
A few days ago, she complained of fever and later her condition deteriorated. As she felt breathlessness on Saturday, her family members took her to the Balipatna Community Health Centre (CHC). She was then referred for shifting to the Capital Hospital.
Being brought to this Government healthcare facility in the city, doctors advised her relatives to take her to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.Instead of shifting the woman to the SCB Hospital, her family members decided to admit her to any hospital in Bhubaneswar but failed to do so as admission to several hospitals here was denied either due to non-availability of Covid test report or lack of vacant ICU beds. The woman’s kin reportedly visited nine hospitals in the city including AMRI, AIIMS, a private clinic near Vani Vihar here and SUM carrying her for around eight hours in a private ambulance in which she was being administered oxygen.
Left with no option, the family members again took her to the Balipatna Community Health Centre. As her oxygen level had dropped drastically to 26% by then, the doctor at the CHC told them to take her to the Capital Hospital again. They refused to do so and pressurised doctor to treat woman. Being informed about the situation, the Balipatna police reached the spot and asked them to shift her to the Capital Hospital. On being taken to the Capital Hospital, the woman underwent Covid-19 test and tested positive for the virus. However, she ultimately died in the ambulance at around 6 pm before she could be admitted to the hospital.
In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday, Samajwadi Party State president Rabi Behera urged him for an inquiry into death of Swarnalata and fix up accountability for tragic incident. He also urged for payment of Rs 10 lakh as compensation to woman’s family.
