A newborn died and a pregnant woman remained in critical condition after she was allegedly unable to receive immediate medical attention at the Kannagi Nagar Community Health Centre (CHC), where relatives and residents claimed no doctor was available when she arrived in labour. The incident triggered protests by local residents and drew criticism from anti-corruption activist and Arappor Iyakkam coordinator Jayaram Venkatesan.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Venkatesan alleged that the woman had visited the Kannagi Nagar Community Health Centre after experiencing labour pains. According to him, no doctors were present at the facility when she arrived. He claimed that hospital staff arranged an ambulance and referred her to the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children (Gosha Hospital) after about an hour.
It was alleged that by the time the woman reached Gosha Hospital, the baby had died and that the mother was battling for her life.
He stated that a similar incident had allegedly occurred about a year ago, when another woman lost her life under comparable circumstances. According to him, residents had protested then and were continuing to raise concerns now, but there had been no significant improvement in healthcare services at the facility.
Stating that the Kannagi Nagar CHC was projected as a 24-hour maternity care centre, Venkatesan questioned how residents continued to face difficulties due to the alleged non-availability of doctors. He urged the Tamil Nadu government to explain the circumstances leading to the incident and take corrective action.
The incident also sparked protests by residents outside the health centre, with relatives of the affected woman alleging lapses in medical care.
கண்ணகி நகர் சமுதாய நல வாழ்வு மருத்துவமனையில் டாக்டர்கள் இல்லாததால் மேலும் ஒரு உயிரிழப்பு. இன்று காலை பிரசவ வலியுடன் ஒரு பெண் கண்ணகி நகர் CHC சென்றுள்ளார். அங்கு டாக்டர்கள் இல்லை. ஒரு மணி நேரம் கழித்து அவரை கோஷா ஹாஸ்பிடல் செல்ல ஆம்புலன்ஸ் ஏற்பாடு செய்துள்ளனர் அங்குள்ள மருத்துவமனை… pic.twitter.com/oDfRuqDqhj
— Arappor Iyakkam (@Arappor) June 9, 2026
According to the woman’s relatives, she had visited the hospital on the previous morning for a routine antenatal check-up. They alleged that hospital staff informed her that her expected delivery date was the following month and advised her that everything appeared normal.
The family stated that later that night, around 9 pm, she began experiencing abdominal tightness and discomfort. They took her to the health centre, where, according to them, staff checked the baby’s heartbeat and assured them that the pregnancy was progressing normally. Relatives alleged that she was given medication and sent home after being told that such symptoms were common during the later stages of pregnancy.
The following morning, her condition reportedly worsened. Family members said she experienced severe abdominal and pelvic pain and contacted them for help. She was then taken back to the Kannagi Nagar Community Health Centre.
Relatives alleged that no doctor was available when they arrived. They claimed that she was taken upstairs for examination and attended to by support staff while the family waited for further instructions. According to the family, they were asked to wait for an ambulance rather than being immediately informed of the seriousness of her condition.
The pregnant woman’s husband works as an auto-rickshaw driver, reportedly told relatives that he would have transported her himself had the family been informed that the situation was critical.
Family members further alleged that she remained at the health centre for nearly 45 minutes while arrangements were made for the ambulance. During that period, they claimed her condition deteriorated significantly and that she suffered heavy bleeding.
After she was transferred to Gosha Hospital, relatives said doctors informed them that efforts were focused on saving the mother’s life. The family stated that they received little information regarding her condition for several hours and were informed that she remained in a serious condition.
During the protest, residents questioned the functioning of the health centre and alleged that despite displaying boards indicating 24-hour services, the facility lacked adequate medical staffing during emergencies.
Some residents also raised concerns over the role of non-medical support staff in attending to patients and demanded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
NEWBORN DIES PREGNANT WOMAN REFERRED FROM KANNAGI NAGAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
RESIDENTS PROTEST OVER LACK OF DOCTORS
A newborn died and its mother remained in critical condition after a pregnant woman who arrived in labour at the Kannagi Nagar Community Health Centre was… pic.twitter.com/bcxogjdko3
— A Selvaraj (@Crime_Selvaraj) June 9, 2026
The protests revived longstanding complaints about healthcare services at the Kannagi Nagar Community Health Centre. Residents alleged that earlier demands for improved staffing, better emergency care and strengthened maternity services had not been adequately addressed.
They urged the Tamil Nadu government and health department authorities to conduct a detailed investigation into the incident, determine whether medical protocols were followed and take measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
No official statement from the health department or hospital authorities was immediately available regarding the allegations made by residents and relatives.
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