The distressing case revolves around a 10-year-old girl from Bihar who succumbed to her injuries following what many allege was a significant delay in medical treatment. The incident has stirred public outrage, with claims that the child was left waiting in an ambulance for approximately four hours before being admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

Reports indicate that the girl was sexually assaulted on May 26, allegedly by a man residing near her aunt's home in Muzaffarpur. Following the attack, she was initially treated at a local hospital before being transferred to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), where she needed urgent surgery for severe injuries including knife wounds to her neck and chest. Her condition reportedly stabilized at SKMCH, after which she was referred to PMCH for further treatment.

However, her uncle contended that hospital staff kept them shuffling among departments instead of promptly admitting her, a claim vehemently denied by PMCH officials. They insisted that the girl was appropriately moved to the gynaecology department after being briefly admitted to the paediatrics unit, and maintained that the ambulance used was adequately equipped for critical care.

The case has not only drawn attention to the plight of the young victim, who belonged to the marginalized Dalit community, but has also sparked severe allegations of negligence against the ruling coalition of the Bihar government. Opposition leaders, including Congress party members, have demanded accountability, emphasizing the systemic issues plaguing healthcare in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi, a leading Congress figure, condemned the incident as a national shame and pressed for immediate action against those responsible.

Protests have erupted statewide, reflecting broader concerns about the healthcare infrastructure in Bihar, where reports highlight alarming deficiencies, including a critical shortage of functional medical equipment and staff. Notably, a recent Times of India editorial labeled the state's health sector inadequate, stating that only half of ventilators in government facilities are operational, and staffing ratios are perilously low, especially in rural regions.

As public outrage continues to mount, further investigations into both the girl's death and the overarching healthcare crisis in Bihar are anticipated in the wake of this heart-wrenching tragedy.

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