Sumana Kumir (7), a resident of Howrah, had been suffering from leukaemia and was admitted to the hospital on February 13. She died early on Monday morning. Her relatives alleged that negligence of the doctors and nurses had caused her death. They also claimed that the hospital authorities tried to hush up the matter by calling a taxi for them and asking them to leave the hospital premises.

“Sumana had been asking the nurse to call us but we were not called though we were present in the premises,” said her uncle Santosh.

In another case, three-month-old Muhammad Zayed, a resident of Rajabazar, was admitted to the hospital due to breathing problems and pneumonia on Sunday. He succumbed later in the day. His relatives claimed that the hospital authorities had not administered him the saline drops properly that caused his death.

As soon as the news of the two deaths spread, relatives staged a demonstration outside the hospital. They also claimed that the hospital authorities had misbehaved with them.

Medical Superintendent of the hospital Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee denied the charge of medical negligence. “Sumana died due to a medical complication and Muhammad due to his inability to digest mother’s milk. There was no negligence in these cases,” he said.

Another death was reported later in the day when a 14-day-old child from Sheoraphuli died at the hospital. He was admitted to the hospital five days ago. His relatives claimed that he was kept in a room with children who had jaundice. Hospital authorities denied the charge and said he died due to septicaemia. They also said although no official complaint has been lodged by the relatives in these cases so far, they would launch an inquiry into the deaths.