A protest over the deaths of a pregnant woman and her unborn child at Regional Hospital in Una escalated on Saturday when her family blocked the Una-Hamirpur state highway at Lal Batti Chowk, while police registered a case against the doctor involved.
The family alleged lapses in the treatment of 33-year-old Reena Devi, a resident of Arniala, who had been admitted to the hospital on October 6. According to the report, she developed a sudden illness at about 8.30 am before she and her unborn child died on October 9.
The bodies were sent for postmortem at Tanda Medical College and later brought back to Una. After the body arrived, family members continued their protest and blocked the highway at Lal Batti Chowk. The blockade disrupted traffic for several hours, turning the dispute over hospital treatment into a wider public-order issue on a key state road.
The family has demanded an impartial inquiry and the immediate arrest of the concerned gynaecologist. Hospital authorities provided a written assurance that they would recommend terminating the doctor’s services and barring her from practising at the hospital. The family, however, rejected the assurance and continued to seek immediate arrest and government-level action.
Una police have registered a case against the doctor under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing death by a negligent act. The registration of the case begins the criminal investigation, while the allegations of treatment lapses remain subject to investigation and any subsequent findings by the authorities.
The episode has placed the accountability mechanisms of a regional public hospital under scrutiny. The family’s demands cover both an independent examination of the treatment provided and action against the individual doctor. The hospital’s written response, as reported, concerns proposed administrative action, while the police case concerns alleged criminal negligence.
The dispute also affected residents and commuters using the Una-Hamirpur highway, as the protest at Lal Batti Chowk led to traffic disruption for several hours. The incident illustrates how unresolved concerns over medical care at public hospitals can quickly extend beyond the facility, involving police, hospital administration, government authorities and road users.
The reported next steps are the police investigation into the case and the hospital authorities’ recommendation on termination and barring the doctor from practising at the facility. The family continues to demand an impartial inquiry, immediate arrest and government-level action.
