Six maternal deaths at Ballari Hospital spark outrage in Karnataka; Lokayukta initiates probe
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Lokayukta has launched a suo motu investigation into six maternal deaths at the Ballari Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) Hospital, allegedly caused by substandard intravenous (IV) fluids. Justice B.S. Patil, the Lokayukta, has directed the registration of a case under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, targeting senior officials from the Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education departments, the Karnataka Medical Supplies Corporation, and BIMS.
Police have been instructed to inspect the hospital and its drug store, with a detailed report to be submitted. District health officers and deputy commissioners across Karnataka have been asked to provide updates on measures to prevent similar incidents and to report on compensation for victims’ families and the accountability of officials involved.
The tragedy has drawn widespread criticism of the Congress-led Karnataka government. The latest victim, Sumaya (25), succumbed to multiple organ failure on December 5 at the Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS). Five other new mothers—Rojamma, Nandini, Muskaan, Mahalaxmi, and Lalitamma—died after undergoing caesarean surgeries at the hospital in November.
Preliminary investigations attribute the deaths to complications arising from the use of substandard IV fluids. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao termed the deaths “unacceptable” and assured swift corrective measures. "If a healthy woman dies due to negligence or faulty medicines, it is unacceptable. The public must not tolerate such failures and should protest," he stated while announcing compensation for the victims’ families.
The IV fluids, supplied by a West Bengal-based pharmaceutical company, were flagged as "Not of Standard Quality" (NSQ) by the Karnataka State Drug Testing Laboratory in March 2023. However, the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kolkata later cleared them, raising questions about regulatory discrepancies. The Karnataka government has urged the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to address these contradictions and take legal action against the manufacturer.
In response, the Karnataka Drug Controller has been suspended, legal proceedings against the pharmaceutical company have been initiated, and the use of its products has been halted. Inspections of the company’s manufacturing facilities are underway to determine any lapses.
Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has demanded a judicial probe and accused the Congress government of gross negligence and collusion. "This tragedy reflects a catastrophic failure of the Congress-led government in Karnataka. The gross negligence is coupled with active collusion to hide the truth," the BJP alleged.
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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
