Initial probe suggests drug overdose in NRS nurse’s death; police suspect foul play

The death of a 30-year-old nurse, Rupali Barman, employed at Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital, has prompted preliminary post-mortem findings suggesting a possible drug overdose. Police are awaiting detailed toxicology and forensic reports to establish the cause of death, as no obvious external injuries or suicide note have been found at the scene.

Barman was on night duty at the hospital's High Dependency Unit when she entered the washroom, only to be found unconscious by her colleagues some time later. Her eyes, fingernails, and part of her tongue exhibited signs of severe oxygen deprivation, or cyanosis. Injection marks were also discovered on her hand. Syringes, medication containers, and other materials were recovered from the washroom and sent for forensic examination.

The hospital has formed an eight-member committee to investigate the incident, which will examine the source of the medication and whether any hospital protocols were breached. Barman's family stated that she had recently been seeking financial assistance for purchasing a flat in Kolkata, recently having received Rs 2 lakh from her father.

Her husband, Rahul Das, expressed concern over the circumstances of her death and requested a judicial inquiry, citing concerns about safety and working conditions for healthcare workers in state-run hospitals.