10-Year-Old Rape Victim Dies in Bihar Amid Hospital Delay Claims

A 10-year-old Dalit girl, raped on May 26 in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, died on Sunday at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Her family alleges a four-hour delay in admission worsened her condition, but PMCH denies this, calling the claims "baseless."

The girl, found with knife wounds, was treated at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) before being sent to PMCH for windpipe surgery. Her uncle said they were shuffled between departments, while PMCH officials say she was quickly moved to the gynaecology ICU.

Opposition leaders, including Congress, have slammed the BJP-JD(U) government for mismanagement, with protests in Patna on June 1. Rahul Gandhi called it “shameful,” while the BJP defended the hospital’s efforts. The National Human Rights Commission has ordered an investigation into the hospital’s role.

The incident highlights Bihar’s healthcare woes, with only half of ventilators functional and one doctor per 11,541 people in Patna, raising concerns ahead of state elections.