Gonda CMO Sparks Outrage with ‘Laddus’ Remark After Death of Newborns

Gonda, Uttar Pradesh – A major controversy erupted after Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Rashmi Verma made a shocking remark while responding to the deaths of two newborns at an unregistered private nursing home.

In a video that has gone viral, Dr. Verma is seen laughing and saying: “One newborn died and everyone is after me. Thousands are alive. Go, eat some laddus.” The comment, made during a media interaction, has been widely condemned for its insensitivity.

The incident took place at a nursing home operating without registration, where two infants died within an hour. Families alleged negligence, leading to protests and the immediate sealing of the facility by health authorities.

Following the backlash, Dr. Verma defended herself, claiming her words were taken “out of context,” edited, and spread in a misleading way. She insisted the video was not meant to hurt sentiments and stressed that she stands with the grieving families.

She explained that she was overwhelmed by repeated questions from journalists and had only intended to highlight the balance between frequent healthy births and rare complications—not to belittle the tragedy.

Meanwhile, the health department has sealed the nursing home and launched a formal investigation into the deaths. Dr. Verma stated that strict action will be taken against those found guilty of negligence and assured that medical violations will not be tolerated.

It is worth noting that Dr. Verma has previously faced accusations of corruption and misconduct from local legislators, though those claims are separate from the current controversy.

Her remark has drawn sharp criticism from citizens, politicians, and civil society groups, who argue that a senior health officer must show empathy and responsibility in times of tragedy.