Mahabubnagar farmer who drank pesticide dies after being denied treatment at four hospitals

Islamabad Ravi Naik (40), a cotton farmer from Erlapally, Jadcherla, died after consuming pesticide. His family alleges that negligence and bed shortages at multiple government hospitals delayed critical treatment.

HYDERABAD: Staff negligence and lack of beds in government hospitals allegedly led to the death of a farmer from Mahabubnagar on Monday.

The farmer, Islamabad Ravi Naik (40), a resident of Erlapally in Jadcherla, had cultivated cotton on his two acres of land. He had taken a loan of Rs 4 lakh for cultivation but was unable to repay it due to poor yield. Unable to bear the financial stress, he consumed pesticide in his fields at around 9 am on Monday.

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Alerted by his condition, other farmers and family members rushed him to a local hospital. As his situation was critical, the staff there referred him to Government General Hospital, Mahabubnagar, at 11 am.

However, the hospital staff reportedly cited non-availability of beds and asked his family to shift him to NIMS or a private hospital in Hyderabad. He was taken to NIMS at 1.30 pm, but after being kept waiting till 5 pm, his family was again advised to shift him to Gandhi Hospital, citing lack of beds, according to reports.

He was eventually admitted to Gandhi Hospital, where he succumbed while undergoing treatment at around 5.30 pm.

Blaming government hospital staff for denying treatment and failing to provide a bed, Ravi Naik’s family members said they would lodge a police complaint.