Bhatkal: A 30-year-old woman, Muzdalifah D/o Ashraf Sukri, tragically passed away just hours after delivering a baby at a private hospital in Bhatkal on Thursday night. Family members have raised concerns, blaming the delay in obtaining blood from a nearby town and the lack of a local blood bank for her untimely death, while some allege medical negligence played a role. It is worth noting that this was her second child, and she leaves behind a three-year-old son too.

According to the family, Muzdalifah, a resident of Madina Colony, was admitted to the hospital on Thursday evening for a normal delivery. The baby was born at around 7:00 PM, and everything seemed fine initially, with the mother reportedly in a stable condition, even engaging in conversation with her family. However, by 9:00 PM, her condition worsened as she suffered excessive bleeding post-delivery, which doctors were unable to control.

Upon seeing her deteriorating condition, the attending gynecologist instructed the family to urgently procure blood from Kundapur, as there was no available supply in Bhatkal. Reports suggest that there was a delay of around 45 minutes in receiving blood from the Kundapur blood bank. Nevertheless, local youth drove 51 kilometers from Kundapur back to Bhatkal in just 20 minutes to deliver the blood bags. Despite the prompt response, Muzdalifah's condition continued to decline, and all efforts to save her failed. She was pronounced dead by 11:00 PM.

News of her passing quickly spread, with a large crowd gathering outside the hospital. Some locals attributed the tragedy to medical negligence, while others pointed to the lack of a blood bank in Bhatkal as a critical factor. Relatives of the deceased believe that if blood had been available on time or if she had been transferred to a better-equipped hospital in Kundapur or Manipal, her life could have been saved.

Her husband, Shehraz Pillur, who works in Dubai, was informed of the tragedy and immediately flew to Bhatkal. After his arrival, Muzdalifah's funeral prayers were held at the Tanzeem Jamia Masjid in Nawayath Colony on Friday morning at around 11:00 AM, followed by her burial at the Nawayath Colony cemetery.

This tragic incident has once again highlighted the pressing need for a blood bank in Bhatkal. In the past, several women have reportedly died due to a lack of timely blood transfusions after childbirth. However, local social and medical organizations have remained silent on the matter, failing to take any meaningful action. Following this recent death, residents are now calling for immediate steps to establish a blood bank in Bhatkal to prevent future tragedies.

For report in Urdu, click here: