UDAIPUR – A 18-year-old student, Aarti Kumari, died tragically at the Mandwa Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Udaipur’s Kotda block on Friday, May 1, 2026, minutes after being administered an injection by nursing staff in the absence of a qualified doctor. The incident has triggered massive protests from villagers and a subsequent counter-strike by healthcare workers, exposing critical gaps in Rajasthan’s rural healthcare delivery system.
The Incident
Aarti Kumari, an aspiring teacher pursuing a diploma in elementary education, was taken to the Mandwa PHC on Friday afternoon complaining of a common cough and cold. Her family alleges that a General Nursing Midwifery (GNM) staff member administered an injection without a medical examination or a valid doctor’s prescription. Within minutes of the procedure, Aarti collapsed and was pronounced dead.
The victim’s father, Manaram, stated that had a doctor been present at the facility, his daughter’s life might have been saved. “The injection was given directly without any check-up, which proved fatal for my daughter,” he said.
Administrative Failure and Protest
Following the death, angry villagers gathered at the PHC, alleging gross medical negligence. Investigations revealed that the doctor officially assigned to the Mandwa PHC, Dr. Subhash Chandra, was reportedly attending to duties at the Kotda Community Health Centre (CHC) instead of his designated post.
Tensions escalated on Saturday as family members and villagers staged a dharna outside the Kotda CHC, refusing to allow a post-mortem until their demands were met. After nearly eight hours of negotiations involving the Tehsildar and police officials, the district administration agreed to:
- A post-mortem by a medical board.
- The registration of a formal case against the nursing staff.
- Financial compensation of ₹5 lakh for the bereaved family.
Healthcare Workers’ Counter-Strike
The situation took a complex turn on Sunday when nursing staff across the Kotda block launched a “work boycott.” The health workers submitted a memorandum to the Block Medical Officer (BMO), alleging that the nursing officer involved, Ravi Chejara, was coerced by the mob into paying ₹1 lakh as mautana (wrongful death compensation) on the spot.
The nurses have vowed to remain on strike until their safety is guaranteed and the extorted money is returned by the deceased girl’s family. “Fear has spread among medical staff that any adverse outcome could provoke violence,” stated a letter from the Kotda block CMHO, which also highlighted that many health institutions in the area are currently functioning without doctors due to massive vacancies.
Ongoing Investigation
The Udaipur Chief Medical Health Officer (CMHO) has launched a formal probe into the medical protocols followed at the Mandwa PHC. Authorities are awaiting the final autopsy report to determine the exact cause of death before lodging a formal FIR for criminal negligence. Meanwhile, rural health services in the Kotda block remain severely crippled as the stand-off between the administration, villagers, and healthcare staff continues.
