Budgam toddler dies after swallowing electronic cell

BUDGAM — A two-year-old boy died after he accidentally swallowed a coin-shaped cell used in electronic watches at his home at Waterwani village of central Kashmir’s Budgam, with relatives alleging that government hospitals, where he was taken, had refused to admit him on one or the other pretext.

The toddler’s relatives, especially his uncle, alleged that he was denied treatment and no ambulance was offered to them by any hospital. The victim has been identified as Shadab Ali.

Ajaz Hussain, the uncle of the victim, said that they took the kid to District Hospital Budgam. “The doctors instead of taking the matter seriously referred him to JVC Hospital Bemina. At JVC, we were directed to shift the kid to SMHS Hospital. At SMHS Hospital, we were made to wait for over three hours and when we raised hue and cry, he was taken inside Operation Theatre where doctors declared him dead,” Hussain said while holding all these three hospitals responsible for the death of the toddler.

“X-Ray revealed the presence of the object and yet he was not given anaesthesia at Budgam hospital,” he lamented.

Chief Medical Officer Budgam, Dr Tajamul couldn’t be contacted as his phone was switched off.

Medical Superintendent, SMHS Hospital, Dr Nazir Chowdhary said that he has not received any complaint in this regard.

Medical Superintendent, JVC Hospital, Dr Shafa Deva said: “We rarely refer any patient to other hospital. I will ascertain the facts about this case and will get back to you,” she said.