Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Bengal minister says science, not assumptions, will probe nurse's death
A nurse named Rupali Barman died at a big hospital in Kolkata.
She worked in the High Dependency Unit of the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department.
Her death happened on a Wednesday, and no one knows yet exactly why.
Some reports say she took three small bottles of a very strong medicine called fentanyl into a washroom.
Doctors think the medicine may have been injected into a vein near her elbow.
The health minister of West Bengal, Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee, said the case must be solved with science, not guesses.
Her family asked for the post-mortem to happen at a different hospital, and the hospital agreed.
Police found no visible injury marks and no suicide note.
The hospital and health department have started an internal inquiry.
Doctors and police are now doing checks to find out the true cause of her death.
West Bengal Health Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee said the investigation and post-mortem into nurse Rupali Barman's death will be based on science, not assumptions.
The post-mortem is being conducted under the supervision of the Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Medical College, Kolkata, as requested by the family for transparency.
Reports allege Barman took three vials of fentanyl to a washroom, but the exact cause of death remains unknown.
Kolkata Police found no visible injury marks and no suicide note was found.
The hospital and Health Department ordered an internal inquiry, with a committee to report to the Director of Medical Education within seven working days.
- Who
- Rupali Barman, a nurse at Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRS) in Kolkata, and West Bengal Health Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee
- What
- Investigation and supervised post-mortem into the death of nurse Rupali Barman
- When
- On Wednesday
- Where
- Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRS), Kolkata; post-mortem at Medical College, Kolkata
- Why
- To determine the exact cause of death, after reports that she allegedly took three vials of fentanyl to a washroom
- Deceased
- Rupali Barman
- Role
- Nurse in the High Dependency Unit, Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department
- Facility
- Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRS), Kolkata
- Reported substance
- Three vials of fentanyl (alleged)
- Post-mortem location
- Medical College, Kolkata
- Scene findings
- No visible injury marks; no suicide note
- Inquiry deadline
- Committee report to Director of Medical Education within seven working days