DC orders probe into death of pregnant woman at MCH Jowai, four-member committee constituted

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 5, 2025

The West Jaintia Hills District Administration has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to probe the death of Pynche Bareh, a pregnant woman from Jalaphet, East Jaintia Hills, who passed away at the Maternity and Child Hospital (MCH), Jowai, on June 4.

Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh, IAS, said this while speaking to the media on June 5. “Actually, it’s an unfortunate death of a lady by the name of Pynche Bareh, who is from Jalaphet, East Jaintia Hills. It has been reported that she passed away on the 4th of June at 9:30 p.m. in MCH Hospital, Jowai,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner stated that the woman was first admitted to Sutnga CHC on June 2 with a complaint of bleeding. “On the 3rd, that is Tuesday, at 12:42 p.m., she was admitted to MCH Jowai on recommendation from the previous health institution,” he said, adding that due to complications that had developed, she could not take any food.

“On the 4th of June, she was seen and reviewed by a consultant. At 2 p.m., her condition was stable. At 5:30 p.m., there was abdominal pain and she was shifted to the Higher Dependency Unit. Technically, she was under constant monitoring by a medical officer,” Singh continued.

“At 6:20 p.m. again, the pain was recorded. At 8:10 p.m., her condition started to deteriorate. After a set of medical procedures, it was declared at 9:15 p.m. that she had passed away,” he said.

He informed that an internal committee has been constituted by the MCH Superintendent to look into the case and submit a report by the end of the day. A separate team from the Directorate of Health Services, headed by a Joint Director, has also visited the hospital and initiated its own fact-finding exercise, collecting information from the medical officers, gynecologist, pediatrician and others involved.

“At our level from the district administration, to have an impartial inquiry, we have appointed our ADC, B. Blah, to head a committee which will be looking into and fact-finding for what are the reasons to ascertain the actual reality of the case,” Singh said.

“To ensure impartiality, we have requested East Jaintia Hills to depute a gynecologist and a pediatrician. So it would be a four-member committee—the DMHO will also be a part of it,” he added.

The committee has been asked to submit its report by Monday. “On the basis of the report, necessary action will be taken,” the DC said.

He further stated, “Once this inquiry gets concluded, we are going to chair and begin a meeting with regard to finding of the lacunas or the gaps which are there with regard to the MCH hospital or with regard to other health facilities also. And on the basis of that, our recommendation will be put forward.”