Kalyan doctor suspended in snakebite deaths case

Thane: Following the tragic deaths of a 4-year-old girl and her aunt due to snake bites in Dombivli, the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has suspended a specialist medical officer at Shastri Nagar Hospital.

The KDMC Commissioner issued the suspension order on October 3 under Section 56(1) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act.

According to the news reports, Pranavi Bhoir was bitten by a snake on September 28 and was admitted to Shastri Nagar Hospital for treatment. Despite medical intervention, she succumbed to the venom two days later. Her aunt, Shruti Thakur, who was also bitten, passed away on September 30. Family members have accused the hospital of delaying treatment and lacking sufficient anti-venom and other essential facilities needed to save the victims.

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Following the incident, the victims’ family staged a protest inside the health officer’s cabin at the KDMC headquarters, demanding that a case of culpable homicide be registered against the hospital staff. The protest ended only after Dr. Shukla provided a written assurance that strict disciplinary measures would be taken against those found responsible.

In an official inquiry led by Dr. Shukla, it was revealed that the specialist medical officer was absent on the night of the incident due to his daughter’s illness. Despite his absence, the KDMC report stated that the hospital provided anti-venom, oxygen support, and PICU care to the patients. However, the victims’ families have strongly disputed these claims, maintaining that critical care was delayed or unavailable.

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Mhatre warned that unless significant improvements are made within the KDMC health department, more lives could be lost due to systemic negligence.