In Bihar, woman dies after quack delivers her baby while watching YouTube videos

A 23-year-old pregnant woman died of excessive bleeding after a quack delivered her baby, watching YouTube videos in a sham surgery in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, officials said on Saturday (January 10, 2025).

The woman’s relatives said she delivered the baby, but could not survive. The death happened on Thursday (January 8) night, but it came to light on Saturday (January 10, 2026) with the Bhagalpur Civil Surgeon forming a team to catch hold of the quack.

After she developed labour pain, the family members took Swati Devi to a private clinic in Ekchari village, Kahalgaon block in the district, where one Ranjit Mandal suggested she undergo a caesarean section to deliver the baby. The family added that before starting the surgery, the quack pocketed ₹30,000 as fees.

A local villager, Rajesh Kumar, said, “When Swati was in the operation theatre, the quack and his assistant were watching YouTube videos on their mobile phones. They were trying to understand the operation technique by repeatedly playing the videos. Suddenly, she started bleeding excessively, and her condition worsened.”

“After the quack failed to control the heavy bleeding, he said that her condition was critical and asked us to take her to a better hospital. By the time he fled from the clinic, she had died. However, the baby survived,” he added.

Another family member said the house where the unauthorised clinic was being run is owned by one Amod Sah for the past two years. Following the death, angered villagers protested by placing the body outside the clinic. Rasalpur police station personnel arrived at the spot and sent the body for a post-mortem.

The clinic where the person delivered the woman’s baby does not even have a name or signboard except a line “Emergency service available 24 hours” painted in red on the walls.

The deceased woman hailed from Jharkhand and had been staying at her maternal house in Bhagalpur. Swati’s grandmother Sanju Devi said an ASHA worker in the area had suggested the clinic.

Swati’s husband, Vikram Sah, a labourer in Jharkhand, said: “My wife was pregnant. I was informed that my wife was admitted to the clinic on Thursday night. The following morning, I got the news that my wife had passed away but my baby boy survived.”

Bhagalpur Civil Surgeon Ashok Kumar said an investigation is under way and stern action will be taken against those found guilty.

“Appropriate action would be taken in this matter. I will request the people that better health facilities are available at the government hospitals. Despite that, people are visiting unauthorised clinics and putting their life in danger. We have formed a team to investigate the matter and the clinic where the incident took place has been sealed,” Mr. Kumar said.

In a similar incident of quackery in September 2024, a teenager had died in Saran district after a quack performed a surgery on him watching YouTube videos.