Furore at UDH over death of patient
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, August 26 2021: Tension prevailed in Ukhrul District Hospital (UDH) on Wednesday after a large crowd of people surrounded its campus following death of a female patient in the isolation ward.

According to sources, Wungkhai Angel, wife of Wungkhai James of Khamasom Walely, was admitted to the isolation ward of the government hospital on August 18 last after she reportedly tested Covid positive from a private hospital.

The patient was reportedly referred to the hospital as she had flu symptoms, though her family did not believe it was a Covid case.

On Wednesday evening, nurses at the hospital gave the patient an injection of Meropenem and within minutes of the drug administration, she started frothing from the mouth and died around 4 pm, sources said.

A scene of furore erupted as an agitated crowd of people gathered at the hospital demanding an explanation from the hospital authorities for the sudden death of the patient.

Family members of the deceased and the public alleged negligence on the part of the doctor arid nurses attending to the patient, and suspected if the injection was administered without any diagnosis.

Suspicion of whether the medicine was beyond its expiry date had also arisen as the doctor and nurses reportedly claimed to have used the injection regularly on their patients.

As confrontation between the public and the hospital authority mounted, police and civil society organisations rushed in to control the situation.

To calm down the situation, the two sides arrived at an agreement to form an independent enquiry committee to be headed by Tangkhul Naga Long with Tangkhul Naga Ato Longphang, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long and THYSO (Hungpung) as members.

The committee has been entrusted to investigate into the death and come out with its findings in due course.

Following the agreement, family members claimed the body of Angel on Thursday morning and moved her mortal remains to her native place for the final rites, sources said.

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