GUWAHATI: A pall of grief and outrage descended upon Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) after a newborn, undergoing treatment for jaundice, met a tragic end following a fall from its bed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on Monday. The heart-wrenching incident has triggered an internal investigation and cast a harsh spotlight on the persistent issue of overcrowding within the state’s premier medical institution.
The infant, a son born to Smita Deka from Noonmati, had been admitted to the NICU for medical care. According to GMCH Principal Dr. Achyut Chandra Baishya, a routine check by hospital staff revealed a horrifying scene: two infants had fallen from their beds. One of the newborns was found tragically “hanging from a phototherapy bed” and despite immediate efforts, could not be resuscitated. Dr. Baishya, confirming the incident as the first of its kind at GMCH, stated that a thorough internal inquiry is underway. Hospital authorities are currently sifting through CCTV footage to piece together the sequence of events that led to the devastating lapse in care.
While offering condolences to the bereaved family, Dr. Baishya acknowledged that the NICU grapples with a severe space crunch. The facility, designed to accommodate 80 infants, is routinely forced to house two or three babies per bed due to the overwhelming patient influx. The Principal, however, sought to reassure the public by drawing a controversial parallel, saying, “Just because accidents happen with cars or planes, it doesn’t mean people stop using them. Similarly, this incident does not mean the hospital is unsafe. GMCH continues to remain a safe and trusted institution.” He assured that stern action would be taken against those found responsible once the probe concludes. The incident has left both the family and the public reeling, demanding accountability and a definitive solution to the critical issue of overcrowding that endangers the most vulnerable patients.