Twenty-four-year-old Kopila Bhandari of Hemja-5 in Kaski reportedly died during a surgery performed 11 hours after going through a Caesarean section on Monday.

The protesters claimed conflicting statement furnished by doctors was enough to prove the negligence on the part of the medical staff. “Why did the doctors operate on her the second time when they had claimed the first surgery as successful?” asked Bishnu Bhandari, Kopila’s relative.

He said the doctors tried to conceal their mistake by making a variety of conflicting excuses, including problem in the umbilical cord, profuse bleeding and lack of blood.

Kopila went to the hospital at 10am on Monday for routine check-up and was taken to the operating room saying that the child in the womb had already reached the third stage. She gave birth to a baby boy at 1pm.

However, after complaining of stomach pain at 10pm, the doctors performed a second surgery and admitted her in the Intensive Care Unit where she was pronounced dead late at night.

Meanwhile, Dr PK Chakraworty, director of the hospital, denied negligence on part of the medical staff and claimed that the victim died due to heart stroke during surgery. “The victim died after her heart and lungs stopped working due to the stroke during surgery,” he said.

Kopila, known for her social work, was a media person associated with Hemja FM. Following her death, her relatives and local mothers’ group reached the hospital to stage the protest, demanding compensation and action against the “guilty”. Police had to use minor force at times to disperse the protestors.

The protesters also held a discussion at the District Administration Office after talks at the hospital failed to reach a conclusion.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Krishna Bhahdur Raut said they have formed a probe committee, comprising the chief of gynaecology and maternity department of the Western Regional Hospital and representatives of the hospital as well as the victims, and the panel will submit a report within a week.