Two newborns freeze to death at a clinic in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli

In a heart-wrenching incident, two newborns tragically lost their lives due to extreme cold conditions at an unlicensed clinic in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh. The health department has taken swift action and filed a case against the unlicensed practitioner, Neetu Kumar, who was subsequently arrested on Monday.

The infants, born to different families at a government hospital in Kairana on September 23, were transferred to Neetu Kumar's private clinic on the same day based on a doctor's recommendation. However, what should have been a routine and safe transition turned into a horrific ordeal.

According to Mohammad Najim, one of the victim's father, "after setting the AC at low temperature, Neetu and other staff members went off to sleep" without ensuring proper regulation of the air conditioner. As a result, the babies were subjected to extreme cold throughout the night.


The devastating consequence of this negligence became apparent the following morning when both infants were discovered lifeless in the nursery. In response, the grief-stricken families staged protests and demanded strict action against those responsible.

Circle officer Amardeep Maurya reported, "Based on a complaint by the families of the children, a case was registered against Neetu under Indian Penal Code sections 304 (causing death by negligence), 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), and 420 (cheating) at Kairana police station."

In addition to the criminal charges, the Additional Chief Medical Officer in Shamli, Dr. Vinod Kumar, revealed that Neetu Kumar was operating without a valid license or a medical degree. Consequently, the clinic in question has been sealed, and Neetu is facing charges under section 15 (2 and 3) of the Indian Medical Council Act (1956).

This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of adhering to medical regulations and ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable patients, especially newborns.