ASHA Workers’ Protest in Nabarangpur Turns Deadly: Three Lives Lost Amid Healthcare Paralysis
Nabarangpur, October 18, 2025: A five-day-long protest by ASHA workers in Nabarangpur district has taken a tragic turn, resulting in the deaths of two infants and a young mother due to disrupted healthcare services in remote villages.
Hundreds of ASHA workers have staged daily sit-ins outside the District Collector’s office, demanding the suspension and arrest of Dr. Sagarika Swain of Umerkote Hospital, whom they accuse of medical negligence.
The strike has crippled essential health services, leaving vulnerable patients without timely care.
Among the deceased are a three-month-old baby from Ghanguda and a six-month-old from Nuaguda, both suffering from pneumonia. A 27-year-old woman from Pakanaguda died during childbirth after failing to receive emergency medical attention. Another child from Chikili remains in critical condition.
Despite mounting casualties, the district administration and health department have yet to act. Failed negotiations led by the District ASHA coordinator have further fueled tensions.
Leaders from Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and ASHA Sangh, including Kabita Swain and Geetanjali Harijan, have joined the protest, warning of worsening conditions for pregnant women and newborns.
The public outcry continues to grow, urging authorities to intervene before more lives are lost.
