The death of a seven-year-old girl undergoing treatment for a fractured leg led to a protest by her parents and relatives, who placed her body on the Karur-Namakkal bypass road on Sunday.
Girl suffered fracture while playing at school
K Kaviksha, a Class 3 student at Panchayat Union Primary School in Kuppichipalayam, suffered a leg fracture while playing at school on August 24.
Two days later, her family took her to a private hospital in Paramathi Velur, where she was treated with a plaster cast. However, her condition reportedly deteriorated.
She was subsequently taken to two other private hospitals in Paramathi Velur and Namakkal. Doctors there reportedly told the family that the condition of her leg had severely worsened.
Leg was amputated despite treatment
Kaviksha was admitted to the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry on August 30.
Her right leg was amputated up to the knee. Despite treatment, she died on Sunday.
Family alleges improper treatment
Following her death, Kaviksha’s parents, Kannan, who runs a fish stall, and Kavya, along with relatives, gathered outside the private hospital in Paramathi Velur.
The family and protesters alleged that improper treatment at the hospital had contributed to the girl’s death and staged a protest after receiving no response from the hospital.
The protesters initially placed her body on the Paramathi Velur-Namakkal Road and blocked traffic before shifting the agitation to the Karur-Namakkal bypass road.
Police intervene as inquiry continues
Namakkal Superintendent of Police Yadav Girish Ashok and other police officials reached the spot and held talks with the protesters. They subsequently persuaded them to withdraw the road blockade.
Kaviksha’s body was then sent to Namakkal Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Police also summoned the doctor from the private hospital and questioned him. Further inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death is under way.