A 30-year-old nurse was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a restroom at Kolkata’s Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRS) late on Wednesday night, triggering a multi-agency investigation. The deceased, identified as Rupali Barman, was on duty at the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the gynaecology department when the incident occurred.
According to hospital sources, Rupali had begun her night shift at around 8 pm on Wednesday. At approximately 10:20 pm, she stepped into a restroom near Room No. 33 but failed to return. When she did not respond to repeated phone calls, colleagues grew concerned.
Within minutes, staff members discovered the restroom door locked from inside. After repeated knocking yielded no response, two hospital staff members broke open the door and found her lying unconscious. She was immediately taken to doctors within the hospital, who declared her dead.
Police from Entally Police Station, along with the Detective Department’s Homicide Squad, reached the hospital soon after being informed. Preliminary findings revealed no visible external injuries on the body, and no suicide note was recovered. A case of unnatural death has been registered, and investigators are examining all possible angles.
Rupali hailed from East Midnapore and had been married for about a year. She was living with her husband in the Dum Dum area. Investigators are now trying to determine whether there were any unusual behavioural or physical signs prior to the incident. Colleagues and hospital staff are likely to be questioned as part of the probe.
State Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee visited the hospital on Thursday and met the family members of the deceased. He stated that no conclusions would be drawn prematurely and emphasised that the case would be investigated thoroughly.
“It cannot be termed a suicide based merely on speculation. The matter will be investigated like any other case,” the minister said after speaking with hospital authorities, staff, and the victim’s family.
At the request of the family, the post-mortem examination is being conducted at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital instead of NRS. The minister confirmed that the decision was taken to ensure transparency and address the concerns of the family.
In addition, the Health Department has announced the formation of an independent inquiry committee comprising heads of seven departments, including nursing, sanitation, and gynaecology. The committee has been tasked with examining all aspects of the incident and submitting a report to Swasthya Bhavan within seven days. Officials have also indicated that workplace stress factors will be reviewed, with the psychiatry department involved in the inquiry.
Hospital colleagues described Rupali as a cheerful individual, making her sudden death even more difficult to comprehend for those who worked with her. Authorities have reiterated that the exact cause of death will only be determined after the post-mortem report is received.
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