Pregnant woman and unborn child die at MCH Jowai; family alleges negligence

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 5, 2025

A pregnant woman and her unborn child died at the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Hospital in Panaliar, Jowai, on the night of June 4. The family has alleged that the deaths were due to delays and negligence in providing timely medical attention.

The deceased, identified as 37-year-old Pynche Bareh of Jalaphet village in East Jaintia Hills, was referred from Sutnga CHC to MCH Jowai for urgent care and delivery.

According to her aunt, Beautiful Bareh, Pynche was admitted to the hospital on June 3 with the intention of delivering her eighth child. However, she claimed that doctors and nurses failed to attend to her niece at the right time and ignored repeated requests for assistance.

“Unless the hospital gives a clear explanation for her death, we will not take her body. We are prepared to leave it,” said Beautiful Bareh.

The family said that Pynche had first been taken to Sutnga CHC on June 2 after experiencing bleeding. From there, she was referred to MCH Jowai. She reached the hospital around 1 PM on June 3. The next morning, on June 4, doctors reportedly instructed her to stop eating and drinking in preparation for delivery.

However, the family alleged that no doctors came to attend to her despite her weakening condition. Even after repeated appeals to the nurses, there was no clear response. Later, the nurses reportedly informed the family that delivery would not take place that day and advised them to give her food and water. She was fed around 1 PM.

By 5 PM, Pynche’s condition deteriorated due to heavy bleeding. The family claimed that their requests for help were ignored by the nurses. Eventually, a doctor came and asked for referral paperwork to shift her elsewhere, but it was already too late—Pynche passed away around 9:30 PM.

Speaking to the media, a doctor at MCH Jowai said her condition had been stable and that the team expected a smooth delivery. However, complications arose around 8:30 PM. He added that the patient had delivered multiple children previously, and a scan had revealed the presence of a 3-centimetre pocket of amniotic fluid. Her expected due date was June 12.

The doctor said two bottles of Alamin Drip were administered in an effort to aid natural delivery. He also noted that further investigation is ongoing and that they cannot comment on the family’s allegations until more details emerge.