A 32-year-old woman and her newborn allegedly died following a delivery conducted by untrained staff at a private hospital in Ayodhya, with the attending doctor reportedly guiding the procedure over the phone, officials and family members said on 2 April.

The incident occurred late on 1 April at Maa Parmeshwari Devi Memorial Hospital in Faizabad. Authorities have sealed the facility and initiated an investigation.

Allegations by family

The deceased, Soni Yadav, was admitted after developing labour pain, her husband Suresh Yadav said.

He alleged that the attending doctor, Anjali Shrivastava, was not present during the delivery and instead directed a staff member over the phone.

“After about half an hour, the staff handed over the baby and said he was not breathing,” he said, adding that the newborn was declared dead by another doctor.

He further alleged that his wife’s condition deteriorated soon after and she was taken to another hospital, where she was declared dead.

The family has accused the hospital of negligence, claiming that no qualified doctor was present during the delivery.