Bhopal/Sidhi, June 3 (IANS) A day after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government over 53 maternal deaths in Sidhi district, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly, Umang Singhar, said on Wednesday that the Commission’s intervention confirms the “extreme gravity” of the healthcare crisis and warrants an impartial probe.

The NHRC took ‘suo motu’ cognisance on Tuesday of media reports that 53 pregnant women died during antenatal and postnatal periods between April 2025 and March 2026 in Sidhi, saying that the primary cause cited for these deaths was a lack of awareness and medical facilities.

It noted that Sidhi has consistently ranked among the bottom three districts in the Community Maternal Health League, an initiative organised by the State Health Department.

Consequently, the Commission has issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.

The NHRC also highlighted severe infrastructure deficiencies, including a shortage of doctors and technical experts at community health centres, primary health centres, and the district hospital, forcing patients to be referred to neighbouring Rewa district for advanced care and exposing them to life-threatening risks during transit.

Reacting to the NHRC’s action, LoP Singhar said his repeated alerts in the state Assembly had finally forced accountability.

He pointed out that when he first raised issues concerning Sidhi’s healthcare system — specifically the shortage of doctors, the ambulance crisis, and the deaths of pregnant women — the state government had sought to evade providing a response.

“Today, the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission serves as proof that this matter is of extreme gravity and necessitates an impartial investigation,” LoP Singhar added.

According to reports flagged by the NHRC, the average age of the deceased was 26, with most women expecting their first or second child.

Several villages in Sidhi lack proper road connectivity, and during monsoon, pregnant women often have to be carried on cots for two to three kilometers before reaching an ambulance.

Singhar asserted that the deaths reflect systemic collapse.

“The deaths of 53 mothers represent more than just a statistic; they tell a story of systemic failure within the healthcare system, administrative negligence, and the anguish of families who have lost the daughters and daughters-in-law of their households,” he said.

He demanded a high-level review across Madhya Pradesh covering maternal health services, institutional delivery mechanisms, doctor availability, ambulance networks, and rural health infrastructure to prevent similar situations in other districts across the state.

–IANS

pd/khz