Jaipur/Ajmer, July 12 -- Five pregnant women died within six days at Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Hospital in Bhilwara district, officials said on Saturday, adding that a detailed inquiry has been ordered into the deaths. This comes after a series of similar incidents were reported from Kota, Bikaner and Jodhpur. Two more maternal deaths were also reported at a government hospital in Banswara district on July 10. According to officials, the latest victim in Bhilwara was identified as Sangeeta Jinagar (32), a resident of Potla village, who died on Friday after undergoing a caesarean procedure. Following the string of maternal deaths, the hospital administration has suspended surgeries in the operation theatre (OT) under scrutiny, officials said. The other deceased women have been identified as Shimla Gurjar (July 5), Fori Devi (July 7), Isha Pandey (July 8) and Divya (July 9), officials said, adding that all had undergone caesarean deliveries and were later shifted to the Medical ICU after their condition deteriorated, where they eventually died. The incident has sparked controversy after allegations emerged that caesarean surgeries continued despite the operation theatre reportedly receiving a positive infection report. A shortage of surgical equipment, was also alleged, with claims that only five surgical sets were available for 30-40 operations. Amid mounting criticism, medical and health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said that the state government is taking the maternal deaths in Bhilwara and Banswara seriously and has deputed expert teams from the medical and health directorate to investigate the cases. "A meeting of the state's senior gynaecology experts will be held on Monday to review the incidents and recommend corrective measures," he said. Citing a preliminary report, the minister said that no evidence of infection in the OT has been found. "The preliminary report from Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara found no evidence of infection in the operation theatre. According to the report, the five women who died over six days succumbed to different medical complications, including myocardial infarction, hypovolemic shock, pulmonary thromboembolism, HELLP syndrome, and postpartum haemorrhage with DIC, indicating there was no common cause linking the deaths." MGH superintendent Dr. Arun God also denied allegations of medical negligence, attributing the deaths to "serious obstetric complications". Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Medical College principal Dr. Pooja Gangrade said that the preliminary inquiry has found no evidence linking the deaths to infection in the operation theatre. She said a factual report has already been submitted to the Directorate. According to Dr. Gangrade, a review meeting chaired by Bhilwara district collector Jasmeet Singh Sandhu examined all five cases. She said the department is continuing its detailed investigation and that treatment protocols and infection-control guidelines are being followed as per prescribed norms. Regular inspections and review meetings are also being conducted by the medical college administration. Hospital authorities further clarified that the operation theatre under scrutiny had not been operational since June 29 after it received a "not permissible" report. A six-member committee of senior doctors has also been constituted to investigate the deaths and submit a comprehensive report, they said. The Opposition has launched a sharp attack on the BJP government over the deaths. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, in a post on social media, questioned whether the government had "left Rajasthan to God's mercy." He alleged that continuing caesarean surgeries despite adverse test results and an acute shortage of equipment amounted to gross negligence and demanded that the Union health ministry send an independent expert team to investigate the matter. Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal termed the state's healthcare system "ICU-bound," calling the deaths not merely negligence but a complete systemic failure. He described the health minister as incompetent and demanded strict accountability. Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully took to X to accuse the BJP government of gross negligence, writing, "Chief Minister, you are in Kekri today, just a short distance from Bhilwara. If you have any sensitivity and humanity left, instead of delivering speeches from public platforms, first visit Bhilwara, look into the eyes of the affected families, and work to revive the healthcare system that your government has pushed onto a ventilator."...