Archive · 14 Aug 2026
NRS Medical College nurse found dead; drug overdose suspected
A nurse named Rupali worked at a big hospital in Kolkata, taking care of very sick patients.
One Wednesday night, she was on duty when she went to the bathroom.
She did not come back for a long time, and her coworkers got worried.
They found the bathroom door locked from inside, so they broke it open.
They found Rupali lying there, not moving, and a doctor said she had died.
The police are now trying to find out exactly what happened.
They found medicine bottles and a needle near her, and early tests make them think she may have taken too much medicine.
Her family is very sad and wants the police to find out the truth.
The hospital also started its own team to check whether nurses may be under too much stress at work.
Staff nurse Rupali Barman, 30, was found dead in a locked washroom of the gynaecology and obstetrics department at NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday night.
She entered the washroom around 10.20pm during her night shift in the high-dependency unit; colleagues broke open the door and found her unconscious, and a doctor declared her dead.
Preliminary post-mortem findings suggest a possible drug overdose, with cyanosis (bluish discolouration) and injection marks reported, but police are awaiting toxicology and forensic reports.
A case of unnatural death was registered at Entally police station, and the homicide wing of Kolkata Police has taken over the investigation; CCTV footage has been seized.
The hospital set up an eight-member inquiry committee, health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee announced a departmental probe into mental stress among health workers, and AIUTUC demanded a judicial inquiry.
- Who
- Rupali Barman, 30, a staff nurse at NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
- What
- She was found dead in a locked washroom; preliminary findings suggest a possible drug overdose, and police are investigating an unnatural death.
- When
- Wednesday night; she entered the washroom around 10.20pm during her night shift.
- Where
- First-floor washroom of the gynaecology and obstetrics department, Centenary Building, NRS Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
- Why
- The cause of death is under investigation; police are examining accidental overdose, suicide and foul play, and a departmental probe will examine whether health workers are under mental stress.
AIUTUC and critics
State health department and police
Investigation of the death
AIUTUC and critics
AIUTUC demanded a judicial inquiry, saying the incident raises questions about the safety and working conditions of healthcare workers and that a 'threat culture' in state-run hospitals remains unaddressed since the 2024 rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
State health department and police
Kolkata Police's homicide wing is investigating an unnatural death case, and the state health department has formed an eight-member committee and a departmental probe to examine what happened.
Cause of death
AIUTUC and critics
Preliminary post-mortem findings suggest a possible drug overdose, and police are examining accidental overdose, suicide and foul play as possibilities.
State health department and police
Family members and the health minister said Rupali showed no signs of stress or disputes, had no history of depression, was described as a jovial person, and the minister said the family had no complaints.
- Victim
- Rupali Barman, 30, staff nurse
- Hospital
- NRS Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata
- Location found
- Locked washroom, gynaecology and obstetrics department, Centenary Building, first floor
- Timeline
- Entered washroom around 10.20pm on Wednesday; declared dead later that night
- Police case
- Unnatural death registered at Entally police station; homicide wing investigating
- Post-mortem
- Conducted at Medical College Kolkata; preliminary findings suggest possible drug overdose
- Hospital probe
- Eight-member committee to submit report to state Health Education Department within a week
- Discrepancies
- Reports differ on the husband's last phone call time (around 7.30pm vs 7.45pm) and on marriage details (married in March this year vs legally married for three years)
