The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports regarding the deaths of eight women and a minor within a week after they underwent surgeries in the gynaecology wards of government hospitals in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara and Banswara districts.
According to the reports, five women died at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara, while three women and a minor lost their lives at the district hospital in Banswara following surgical procedures.
Taking serious note of the incident, the Commission observed that, if the media reports are found to be true, the deaths raise grave concerns over the violation of the victims’ human rights, particularly their right to life and access to safe healthcare.
The NHRC has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Rajasthan, directing the state to submit a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the circumstances surrounding the deaths, the findings of the ongoing inquiry, and the steps taken to fix responsibility and prevent such incidents in the future.
According to media reports published on 12 July 2026, the state authorities have already initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact causes of the deaths. The outcome of the inquiry is expected to determine whether medical negligence, procedural lapses, or other systemic failures contributed to the tragedy.
