Outrage in India After 10-Year-Old Dalit Rape Victim Dies Amid Alleged Medical Negligence

The death of a 10-year-old rape victim in the eastern Indian state of Bihar has ignited nationwide outrage after the girl’s family alleged that she was left waiting in an ambulance for hours before being admitted to a government-run hospital in Patna.

The child, a member of the Dalit community died on Sunday at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), following severe injuries sustained in a brutal assault on May 26 in Muzaffarpur. Authorities said she had multiple stab wounds, including to her chest and neck.

According to the girl’s uncle, her condition deteriorated at PMCH as hospital staff failed to admit her promptly. “They made us run around for four hours from one hospital department to another,” he alleged.

Hospital officials have denied any wrongdoing. “The allegations of a delay in getting a hospital bed are baseless,” PMCH official I.S. Thakur told reporters. He claimed the child was brought in an advanced life support ambulance and that her transfer between departments was based on medical necessity, not negligence.

“This is extremely shameful,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a statement. RJD also issued a statement on social media, saying, “What is the use of the big buildings being built in the name of hospitals when there is chaos, corruption, misbehaviour, lack of resources, and insensitivity all around?”

BJP spokesperson Anamika Singh Patel called the child’s death “unfortunate,” but defended the healthcare system, stating, “Getting a bed in a hospital is a process which takes time. People in our government are working responsibly.”

The man accused of raping and assaulting the girl, reportedly a neighbor of her aunt, has been arrested and remains in custody as police continue their investigation.