Tura/Baghmara, April 26: An 11-year-old girl from Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills  died after she was allegedly denied treatment at two hospitals in Tura, sparking outrage and demands for an inquiry into possible medical negligence and denial of emergency care.

The child, identified as Netera Sangma of Azigre village in Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division, had reportedly been bitten by a dog months earlier but kept it a secret out of fear. Her family only became aware of the bite after her condition worsened earlier this week.

According to her father, Nilstone A. Marak, the girl began vomiting on Tuesday night and was initially taken to a local dispensary on Wednesday, where she claimed to have been bitten by a spider and was treated accordingly.

As her health deteriorated, she was taken on Friday to Dadenggre Community Health Centre (CHC), where doctors suspected rabies. Upon being questioned again, she admitted to the earlier dog bite.

She was then referred to Tura Civil Hospital for urgent treatment, with the family told that the facility had been informed. However, upon reaching the hospital on Friday night, they were allegedly told that no beds were available and were directed to Holy Cross Hospital instead.

“It broke my heart when my daughter asked me, ‘Daddy, why are they not taking me in and giving me treatment?’ She was still conscious, lying on the floor of the ambulance. I pleaded with the doctors, but they said there were no beds,” the father said.

At Holy Cross Hospital, the family claims they faced a similar response, with hospital authorities reportedly citing lack of vacant beds and absence of isolation facilities required for such cases. They were advised to return to the civil hospital.

Left with no options, the family began the return journey home to Dadenggre. The child died in the ambulance before reaching home. “She was our only child and would have turned 12 in a few weeks,” her father said, adding that he had only wished for her to receive care and pass peacefully.

The incident has triggered sharp reactions across the Garo Hills region. A formal complaint filed by social activist Shri Greneth M. Sangma has termed the alleged denial of treatment a violation of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The complaint also cites the Supreme Court’s ruling in Parmanand Katara vs. Union of India, which mandates that no hospital can refuse emergency medical care.

Medical experts have also raised concerns over the handling of the case. While hospitals reportedly cited infection risks and lack of facilities, experts note that rabies transmission can be managed with appropriate precautions. They emphasise that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—including masks, gloves, face shields, and protective gowns—has long been standard in handling infectious diseases and should not be used as a reason to deny even palliative or emergency care.

The incident also comes against the backdrop of Meghalaya’s ambitious State Action Plan to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030, which emphasises timely access to life-saving post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), mass dog vaccination, and improved public awareness. The plan identifies access to immediate treatment for bite victims as a critical pillar to prevent deaths from what is otherwise a 100% preventable disease.

The government strategy further stresses a ‘One Health’ approach—bringing together human health, veterinary services, and community participation—to ensure no patient is denied care due to gaps in infrastructure or coordination.

The state has acknowledged rabies as a continuing threat driven by a large stray dog population and has recorded a recent spike in human cases, underscoring gaps in prevention and timely treatment.

The case has intensified calls for urgent reforms in emergency healthcare services in the region. Authorities are yet to issue an official response.

According to data reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Meghalaya recorded 2,466 rabies cases as of January 2025. The state has seen a steady rise in cases in recent years, with 5,302 cases in 2022, increasing to 9,611 in 2023 and 11,784 in 2024.

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