An incident of gross negligence has been alleged against the GK General Government Hospital at Bhuj, Kutch district’s largest government hospital. On Friday morning, the hospital authorities allegedly handed over a dead child – in place of a surviving child being treated at the hospital.

Following the incident, aggrieved family members had approached the District Collector and the District Development Officer. The deceased child was later handed back to GK General Hospital.

The wife of Netra village resident Karim Barach was admitted to the hospital three days ago. The woman gave birth to a baby girl, through a Caesarian section. The infant needed treatment and was placed in a crib in the paediatric ward.

On Friday morning, Barach was informed by the hospital staff that his infant child had died. The father accepted the body.  On pressing the hospital authorities, the family was informed that their Barach’s child, an infant girl, was alive and well.

The family immediately notified the Collector’s office and the District Development Officer’s office about the incident.

The hospital’s negligence resulted in a public outcry. Leaders, including Haji Ibrahim Halepotra, former president of the All Kutch Sunni Muslim Interest Protection Committee are keen to lodge a police complaint against the hospital authorities.