Assam Investigates 148 Newborn Deaths in Barak Valley

Guwahati: Assam health officials are investigating the deaths of 148 newborns across the Barak Valley. The spike occurred between April 1 and July 3. Sribhumi reported 49 fatalities alone. Cachar tallied 74 deaths, while Hailakandi saw 25. The numbers triggered an immediate government inquiry.

The Chief Minister’s Office is monitoring the probe. Health Department staff are scrutinizing maternal care and emergency referral networks to find failures. They aim to boost the quality of care and fix systemic gaps. Preliminary data points to birth asphyxia, low birth weight, and neonatal sepsis as the primary killers.

Joint Director of the Health Department Dr. Matindra Sutradhar said every death is being examined individually. Authorities will conduct a case-by-case analysis to determine exact causes before making recommendations to prevent future losses. Investigators are also looking for signs of staff negligence. The department promises swift action if they find any wrongdoing.