‘My two-yr-old daughter asks where is her mother’

Victims’ families unsure of their future as govt officials are yet to approach them or offer any support in the form of ex-gratia

HYDERABAD: Distraught after death of Bushra Begum, one of the five women who died after undergoing caesarean surgery at Niloufer Hospital, her husband Md Nayeem attempted suicide by consuming a floor cleansing solution.
He is however on the road to recovery. But this is not an isolated case among family members of the five deceased women as Venkateshwarlu, husband of another deceased Anusha, too resorted to the extreme step but was stopped by his family.

P Venkateshwarlu, husband of Anusha, with his daughter Harshini. His sister-in-law Rani is holding his new born boy | express photo

From January 28 to February 4, five women who underwent caesarean surgery at Niloufer Hospital have died. At least one more patient who underwent C-section during the time period has survived. Venkateshwarlu works as a driver in a private transport company and lives in a shack at Sardar Patel Nagar near Nizampet. He said that after Anusha’s death, he goes home only in the night and not during any other time in the day.
“My two-year-old daughter, Harshini, keeps asking me ‘where is mother’. I don’t have an answer. That’s why I have been avoiding going home. When I wanted to commit suicide, my family consoled me that I should not resort to the extreme step  and I should live for my children,” Venkateshwarlu said.
He added that he gives `50 to `100 to his mother so that something could be bought for Harshini to deviate her attention from Anusha. His new born boy is being fed with powdered milk.
On Monday, 15-days after his wife died, when Venkateshwarlu was asked if anyone from inquiry committee had contacted him, he instead had a question.
“Till now, four media personnel spoke to me. What is the use if I say all this again? My demand is ex-gratia of `10 lakh and the government should take care of my children till they reach 18 years of age,” he demanded.

Meanwhile at Bushra’s home, her mother Akhtar Unnisa sought nothing but justice. “We were told that officials will speak to us on February 27. I am taking care of the new born girl and her son. Justice should be done to them,” Akhtar Unnisa demanded.
Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of the deaths and called for a report on allegations for the deaths by Feb 27.