AGARTALA: In a case that raises questions about public confidence in state healthcare infrastructure, a premature infant suffering from neonatal gangrene was shuttled across multiple private facilities by her parents before receiving critical treatment at Tripura Medical College & Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital here in Agartala, where she underwent surgery for a condition affecting fewer than 100 patients worldwide.
It is learned that the infant girl was born to Jebin Begum (29), and Joynul Haque who are the residents of Kailashahar, Unakoti district, on December 25, 2025, through normal delivery while the family was en route to the hospital. According to reports, the mother’s water broke at seven months of pregnancy, leading to the premature birth during transit to hospital. Doctors said, “This was the couple’s second child, their first baby having died immediately after delivery in 2024″.
Following the birth, the family took the infant to a private hospital in Kailashahar where doctors identified respiratory distress and immediately referred the case to Tripura’s top referral hospital G.B Pant Hospital in Agartala. However, the parents chose not to follow this referral and instead admitted their daughter to another private hospital in Agartala.
However, at this private facility, medical staff identified that gangrene had developed in the infant’s right leg. After two days of treatment there, the parents moved the child to Silchar Medical College. Attending doctors at Silchar, confronted with such a premature and underweight infant presenting with advancing gangrene, referred the case to Gauhati Medical College for specialized intervention.
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It was only after consulting a pediatric specialist in Kailashahar that the family was urgently directed to Dr. Aniruddha Basak, a superspecialist in neonatal and pediatric surgery at Tripura Medical College and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital at Hapania, Agartala.
On December 31, 2025, when the infant was six days old, she was finally admitted to Tripura Medical College under Dr. Basak’s supervision.
While giving an exclusive interview to Ukhrul Times, Dr. Basak shared comprehensive details of this extraordinary medical case, walking through the critical decisions and procedures that ultimately saved the infant’s life. The surgeon explained the severity of the condition upon the child’s admission and the urgency with which his team had to act to prevent a potentially fatal outcome.
“The child’s right leg had developed gangrene and required immediate surgical intervention. Without prompt operation, the infection would spread throughout the body, making it extremely difficult to save the baby’s life,” Dr. Basak explained.
After comprehensive examinations and preparations, Dr. Basak and his surgical team performed the operation on January 6, 2026. The procedure, which lasted approximately two hours, was classified as a Lisfranc amputation to treat neonatal gangrene. A portion of the infant’s right leg was removed to prevent the infection from becoming systemic. At the time of surgery, the baby was just 10 days old and weighed only one kilogram.
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Speaking about the rarity of the condition, Dr. Basak stated, “This is an extremely rare condition. Till now, only around 100 cases have been reported globally. Performing such a complex surgical procedure on a premature infant weighing merely one kilogram and only 10 days old is exceptionally uncommon and carries significant risk.”
When asked about preventive measures, Dr. Basak emphasized the importance of proper medical protocols. “Precautions to avoid such complications include maintaining sterile delivery techniques and always preferring institutional delivery. Maternal diabetes is also identified as a risk factor for such conditions,” he explained.
Regarding the long-term implications if left untreated, the surgeon warned, “If neglected, neonatal gangrene can lead to severe sepsis and ultimately progress to septic shock, which can be fatal.”
Dr. Basak was candid about whether earlier intervention could have changed the outcome for the child’s leg. “Yes, of course. Earlier the diagnosis, earlier the intervention, better is the outcome. The child’s leg could potentially have been saved if the patient had been referred to TMC earlier,” he stated.
The case has brought attention to a critical gap in Tripura’s healthcare infrastructure. Dr. Basak pointed out a significant concern regarding specialized pediatric care in the state.
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“In Tripura, a pediatric surgeon is available only at Tripura Medical College, which is a private medical college. Any pediatric or neonatal case anywhere in the state gets referred to TMC, as this is the only facility with a pediatric surgeon,” he revealed.