Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, June 21
A high-voltage drama unfolded at Himachal Pradesh’s largest maternity hospital on Saturday evening after a woman falsely claimed she had delivered twins and accused the hospital of abducting them. The woman, Nirmala from Nihari in Mandi district, arrived at Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH) in Shimla and alleged that her newborn babies had gone missing after delivery. Her claim caused panic on the hospital premises and prompted police intervention.
However, a swift investigation by hospital authorities and the police revealed a different story.
According to KNH medical superintendent Dr SS Negi, the woman had never been pregnant. “She has been under infertility treatment at our facility for two years, and her latest pregnancy reports are negative,” he said. Hospital officials said CCTV footage and medical records confirmed that no delivery had taken place. Despite this, Nirmala’s family — including her husband, mother-in-law, sister, and brother-in-law — supported the false claim, further fuelling tensions.
Doctors believe the woman may be suffering from pseudocyesis, a psychological condition in which a woman falsely believes she is pregnant. “Such cases require counselling and support, but instead, her family amplified the falsehood,” said Dr Negi.
Police detained Nirmala and her husband for questioning after reviewing video evidence. The hospital has filed a formal complaint against the woman and her family, accusing them of defaming the institution and disrupting public services.
