A pall of gloom has descended on the Charakbai Madhyapara area under Shantirbazar subdivision after the tragic death of 9-year-old Arthi Majumdar, allegedly due to medical negligence at Baikhora Primary Health Centre.

According to family members, Arthi Majumdar, the daughter of poor parents who had enrolled her in a local English-medium school with the hope of giving her a better future, was bitten by an unknown creature on Monday night while retrieving her mobile phone. Suspecting a poisonous bite, her family immediately rushed her to Baikhora Primary Health Centre.

Relatives alleged that the on-duty doctor, Randip Bhowmik, did not properly examine the child and instead administered three injections before keeping her under observation for six hours. Later, when Arthi complained of chest pain, her anxious parents went to the doctor’s quarters, where he reportedly prescribed gas medicine. After the medicine was administered, Arthi was sent home, but her condition deteriorated, and her skin began to change color.

Her family rushed her back to Baikhora PHC, where Dr. Bhowmik referred her to Shantirbazar District Hospital. However, precious time was lost as the ambulance driver was unavailable at the hospital and had to be called from his residence, nearly two kilometers away. By the time Arthi reached the district hospital, doctors confirmed it was a snakebite, but the venom had already spread through her body. 

Despite treatment and further referral to GBP Hospital in Agartala, she collapsed and died.

Arthi’s uncle alleged that her life could have been saved if timely and proper treatment had been provided at Baikhora PHC. “Earlier, the hospital had earned people’s trust under the dedicated service of Dr. Shubhrajyoti Majumdar. But now, due to the negligence of his successor, Dr. Randeep Bhowmik, people are losing faith in Baikhora Hospital,” he said.

The incident has triggered widespread grief in the locality, with villagers mourning the untimely death of the young girl whose parents had cherished dreams of giving her a bright future.