Haryana tightens maternal healthcare protocols after Faridabad child death case
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 18, 2026: In the wake of a shocking incident in Faridabad involving the death of a one-year-old girl allegedly thrown into a drain by her mother, the Haryana Health Department has announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening emergency response systems, maternal healthcare services and patient support mechanisms across government health institutions in the state.
Acting on the matter, Dr. Sumita Misra directed all Civil Surgeons to improve preparedness at hospitals and delivery points while ensuring that pregnant women and vulnerable patients receive timely medical attention and support.
The move comes weeks after police in Faridabad arrested a 28-year-old woman accused of throwing her one-year-old daughter into a drain in the Palla area. The child’s body was recovered on April 23 after schoolchildren spotted it stuck in an iron mesh along the drain. CCTV footage later allegedly showed the woman carrying the child toward the drain and returning alone. Police said the accused cited financial distress during questioning, while the post-mortem confirmed death by drowning.
Following the incident, the Health Department has stressed the need for stronger patient-centric healthcare systems, especially for women and families facing distress situations.
Under the new directions, all First Referral Units (FRUs) in Haryana must keep at least one fully equipped ambulance available round the clock. Hospitals with high delivery loads have also been instructed to maintain dedicated emergency ambulances stocked with essential medicines and equipment for maternal care services.
The government has additionally ordered that the main gates of all public health facilities remain open 24×7 to ensure uninterrupted emergency access for patients.
Special emphasis has also been placed on strengthening staffing at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and other 24-hour healthcare facilities. The department has directed all such centres to ensure the continuous physical presence of staff nurses for delivery care services.
District-level National Health Mission (NHM) teams and facility in-charges have been instructed to carry out random night inspections to improve monitoring and ensure smooth functioning of services during emergency hours.
To address manpower shortages, district authorities have been asked to immediately deploy additional nursing staff wherever required. Civil Surgeons have been given a three-day deadline to ensure that no delivery point remains understaffed.
Dr. Misra said the measures are aimed at improving healthcare delivery standards, strengthening maternal healthcare infrastructure at the grassroots level and ensuring patient safety and public confidence in government hospitals across Haryana.