Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Panel Probes Work Stress After Nurse Rupali Barman's Death
A nurse named Rupali Barman worked at a big hospital.
One night, she went to the bathroom during her night shift and did not come back.
Her colleagues found the door locked from the inside and discovered that she had died.
Nobody knows yet exactly why this happened.
Rupali had been working at a special care unit called the high-dependency unit, and some people think she may have been very tired or stressed from too much work.
To find out, the hospital set up a group of seven doctors to study how hard the nurses work.
They will check the number of patients, how many nurses and doctors are on duty, and whether the staff feel stressed or mentally unwell.
The health minister said no one should assume Rupali was stressed, because her family never said anything about that.
The doctors will give their report in one week.
30-year-old nurse Rupali Barman was found dead in a washroom of the gynaecology and obstetrics department at NRS Medical College and Hospital last Wednesday night.
She had entered the washroom around 10.20pm, about two hours after starting her night shift at the high-dependency unit, and colleagues found the door locked from inside.
A seven-member committee, led by the head of the forensic medicine department and including the head of psychiatry, will assess working conditions, workload, infrastructure and staff mental health.
Health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee said the department will not make assumptions about Rupali's mental health, noting her family reported no history of stress.
Police sealed three locations and requested the list of medical and non-medical staff on duty between August 12 and 13.
- Who
- Rupali Barman, a 30-year-old nurse at NRS Medical College and Hospital, along with a seven-member probe committee and health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee.
- What
- Rupali Barman was found dead in a locked washroom; a committee is investigating whether extreme work stress and heavy workload affected hospital staff, though the cause of death is not yet determined.
- When
- Last Wednesday night, after she reported for her night shift; police are reviewing duty rosters for August 12-13, and the committee must report within a week.
- Where
- A washroom in the gynaecology and obstetrics department on the first floor of the Centenary Building at NRS Medical College and Hospital.
- Why
- The circumstances of her death are under investigation, with officials examining working conditions and staff mental health; the health department said it will not assume Rupali was under stress.
- Deceased
- Rupali Barman, 30-year-old nurse
- Hospital
- NRS Medical College and Hospital, Centenary Building
- Department
- Gynaecology and obstetrics (high-dependency unit)
- Incident time
- Wednesday night; entered washroom around 10.20pm during night shift
- Probe committee
- Seven members, headed by head of forensic medicine department, including head of psychiatry
- Health minister
- Sharadwat Mukherjee
- Probe scope
- Working conditions, infrastructure, workload, night-shift responsibilities, staff mental health
- Police action
- Sealed three locations; sought duty list for August 12-13