No Aadhaar: Kargil martyr’s wife ‘ denied treatment’, dies

Son says Sonepat hospital refused to admit her, after which he took her to another hospital but she died on way

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has ordered an inquiry after the son of a Kargil martyr alleged that his 55-year-old mother died after being denied treatment at a private hospital in Sonepat as she did not have her Aadhaar card with her at the time.

The woman’s son, Pavan Kumar, alleged that he had taken his mother Shakuntala Devi to a private hospital. “The hospital insisted to see her Aadhar card before starting the treatment. I told them I did not have the Aadhar card at the time but showed its copy to the hospital administration on my mobile phone and promised to get it within an hour,” Kumar said. “But they did not admit her. I begged them to start my mother’s treatment, but they called the security to manhandle me,” he said.

No wanting to waste anymore time, Kumar said he then took his mother to another hospital, but she passed away on the way.

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, said, “I have received information about it. We will conduct an inquiry and punish those found guilty.”

The private hospital, however, has refuted Kumar’s allegations, maintaining they did not refuse treatment to anyone without Aadhar card. A doctor at the hospital said the patient never reached the hospital. “Aadhar card is mandatory for documentation, but not for treatment. We have never denied treatment to anyone without Aadhar card,” the doctor maintained.