The state Health Department has constituted an expert committee to investigate the deaths of newborns at Malda Medical College. A notification issued by Swasthya Bhavan on Friday stated that members of the state-appointed expert committee would visit Malda Medical College on Saturday. Dr. Pralay Acharya serves as the committee's chairman. The committee also includes Dr. Rajsekhar Sarkar and Dr. Bholanath Aich from Murshidabad Medical College, as well as Dr. Bijan Saha from SSKM Hospital.

A four-member special committee may arrive at Malda Medical College as early as Saturday morning.

Ten infants died on a single day in August at Malda Medical College. A total of 60 newborns have died at the hospital up to the third week of this month. The administration swung into action as soon as the matter came to light. On Thursday, a full report regarding the incident was sought from the Malda Medical College authorities. Now, the Health Department has constituted a special inquiry committee.

Malda Medical authorities claimed that of the ten newborns who died, eight had been born at other hospitals or nursing homes within the district. Only two of the ten infants were born at Malda Medical College; the others had been referred there from outside facilities in critical condition.

Of the 60 infants, 16 were born at Malda Medical College itself. Swasthya Bhavan took serious note of the deaths of 60 infants within a span of three weeks.