Pregnant woman and unborn child die after injection at Airoli municipal hospital
A 23-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn child died, while another expectant mother was left in critical condition, after developing severe complications from injections administered at the Rajmata Jijau Municipal Hospital in Airoli, Navi Mumbai.
The incidents, which occurred on June 30 and July 1, have triggered widespread protests, allegations of medical negligence, and a high-level inquiry by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). Following the tragedy, NMMC Commissioner Kailas Shinde announced the suspension of hospital doctor Dr. Bhavana Pagare for alleged lapses in the discharge of her duties.
The deceased patient, identified as Sonam Karan Dongre, was eight months pregnant. According to her husband, Karan Dongre, the couple visited the hospital on June 30 for a routine antenatal check-up and she was admitted on doctors' advice. On July 1, between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., she was administered a second dose of an injection and immediately fell unconscious.
Karan Dongre alleged that hospital staff barred relatives from the ward after she collapsed, repeatedly claiming such reactions were normal. He stated that the hospital did not provide clear information or allow the family to transfer her to another facility for nearly three hours. Sonam was eventually shifted to the NMMC Public Hospital in Vashi, where she was declared dead within an hour of arrival. Her family refused to accept the body for several hours until the civic body agreed to send it to JJ Hospital for an independent post-mortem.
The second patient, Richa Mishra, was also admitted on June 30 and suffered complications after her second injection dose on July 1. She was shifted to the intensive care unit and is currently undergoing treatment at Fortis Hospital, where officials state she is showing signs of improvement. Her family has lodged a police complaint alleging medical negligence.
A high-level inquiry committee, headed by the Thane district civil surgeon, has been formed to investigate the incident. The committee includes experts from JJ Hospital, the Navi Mumbai Gynaecological Society, and the NMMC. They will investigate whether treatment protocols were followed, if an overdose occurred, or if the reaction was linked to the medicine itself. The committee has been directed to submit its report within 15 days.
Additionally, samples of the injection have been sent to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for testing. The entire batch of the medicine, which was valid until early 2027, has been withdrawn from all municipal hospitals as a precautionary measure.
The tragedy sparked intense protests by family members and political workers from the NCP, MNS, and Shiv Sena, who demanded strict action, compensation, and an audit of the civic health department.
