Dhubri, June 9: A tense situation unfolded at the Tamarhat Primary Health Centre in Assam’s Dhubri district on Monday after the death of an eight-year-old girl allegedly due to negligence in providing timely medical treatment following a snakebite.
The deceased, identified as Khadija Parbin, was a Class III student of Daspara LP School and the daughter of Jahar Ali, a resident of Oxiguri (Hatidhura) village under Tamarhat.
According to family members, Khadija was bitten by a snake during the morning hours and was immediately taken to the Tamarhat Primary Health Centre for treatment. However, the family alleged that despite informing hospital staff about the snakebite, the child was not provided medical assistance and was instead sent back home by a pharmacist identified as Ikramul Haque.
The family further claimed that they had shown a photograph of the snake, which had been killed after the incident, but no treatment was initiated at the health centre.
After returning home, Khadija’s condition reportedly worsened rapidly. Alarmed by her deteriorating health, family members rushed her towards Dhubri Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment. However, she succumbed on the way before reaching the hospital.
The incident sparked widespread outrage in the area. Following the post-mortem examination, hundreds of local residents and relatives brought the child’s body to the Tamarhat Primary Health Centre and staged a massive protest, accusing the hospital authorities of gross negligence and demanding strict action against those responsible.
As tensions escalated, angry protesters gathered on the hospital premises, leading to a volatile situation. Amid mounting public anger, pharmacist Ikramul Haque allegedly took shelter inside the residential quarters of a doctor attached to the health centre.
Police personnel from Tamarhat Police Station rushed to the scene and intervened to prevent the situation from spiralling further. The pharmacist was later escorted from the hospital premises and taken to the police station for his safety.
The death of the young student has triggered widespread concern across the region, with residents demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and accountability for any lapses in emergency medical response.
The incident has once again brought attention to the challenges faced by rural healthcare facilities in Assam, particularly in the management of snakebite emergencies, where timely treatment is often critical for survival.