The relatives of six-year-old Zeba Kaina, who died in the paediatric ward of the hospital, allegedly slapped the liftman when they were refused to use the lift from the hospital’s fifth floor to the ground floor. Zeba Kaina, a resident of Gora Chand Road, was admitted on December 26 with symptoms of jaundice but died on Thursday morning.

The relatives of the child alleged that nurses misbehaved with them and even after repeated requests no stretcher was brought to carry the body downstairs. When the relatives tried to enter the elevator to bring the body downstairs liftman Suresh Raut refused to allow them to do so, forcing them to take the steps to carry the body downstairs.

“We got the news of her death at 8.30 am and from then onwards till 11 pm we were busy with the formal paper work,” said Noor Ahmad, a neighbour of the deceased.

“When we finished and went upstairs to put the body on the stretcher and take it downstairs, the nurses refused to comply saying that they could not help. We then decided to take the body ourselves and carry it down by the lift. But then the liftman refused and demanded money,” she added.

This led to an altercation between the relatives and the liftman with the latter pointing out that the lift was maintained by the PWD.

Irate relatives then rushed to the medical superintendent’s room and lodged a complaint against the hospital staff. They also narrated the incident to the PWD officials but they are yet to take necessary action.