The overwhelming response to a Madhya Pradesh government scheme that seeks to promote institutional deliveries has taken its toll on the already crowded Sultania Women’s Hospital in Bhopal where six women have lost their lives in the maternity ward over two days.

The hospital, which can cater to only 90 beds, received 230 patients, many of them critical because complicated cases are referred to it from across the state, when the first death took place Saturday. By Sunday, five more women lost their lives, making relatives angry and forcing the administration to step up security. Some patients even began leaving the hospital.

Hospital superintendent Dr Neeraj Bedi was removed late Sunday — the first casualty of an inquiry ordered by the government. Health Minister Anup Mishra cracked the whip after a three-member committee apparently detected administrative lapses. The committee’s findings on the deaths are yet to be made public. The state women’s commission has instituted another inquiry, seeking details within seven days on the fatalities and the hospital infrastructure.

The Janani Suraksha scheme was introduced by the government to popularise institutional deliveries in the state which has high maternal mortality and infant mortality rates. Under the scheme, Rs 1,400 is paid to a woman in a rural area and Rs 1,000 in an urban area with separate monetary incentives for workers who bring pregnant women to hospitals.

Since the scheme had many takers and government hospitals in many towns found it difficult to cope with the rush, the government tied up with private hospitals under the Janani Sahayogi Scheme.

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