Nurse found dead at Kolkata hospital; police probe ordered

Kolkata Police have launched an investigation after a 30-year-old nurse was found dead inside a washroom at N.R.S. Medical College and Hospital late on Wednesday night.

The woman, who worked in the gynaecology ward, had reported for her night shift at around 8 p.m. Roughly two hours later, colleagues were unable to locate her. She was subsequently found unconscious on the bathroom floor and was rushed for medical treatment, where she was declared dead.

Officials stated that no visible marks of injury and no suicide note were found at the scene. The area has been sealed, and CCTV footage is being examined. Police have also contacted the deceased's husband for further details.

A post-mortem is being conducted to establish the cause of death. The nurse's family requested that the procedure be carried out at a facility other than N.R.S. Medical College to ensure transparency. The body was shifted to Medical College, Kolkata, for the autopsy.

West Bengal Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee visited the hospital and assured the family of full cooperation. He noted that the hospital is also launching an independent investigation. "We do not have answers about how and why she died. But we should not assume anything, only police can answer these things after investigation," he said.

Colleagues said the nurse was recently married. The incident has drawn criticism from the opposition Trinamool Congress, which questioned the safety of women in the state.

The case has evoked memories of the August 2024 discovery of a woman doctor's body at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, which had sparked widespread concerns over the safety of medical staff.