Health inspector’s death: family says DMO ignored her condition

The family of the 51-year-old woman health inspector who reportedly collapsed and died during a panchayat meeting shortly after receiving a transfer order have decided to complain against the Kannur District Medical Officer (DMO), alleging that her health condition was ignored despite being brought to the authorities’ attention.Deepa Lekha, Health inspector at the Chokli Family Health Centre (FHC) and a native of Vadakara, reportedly collapsed while attending a standing committee meeting of the panchayat and died despite being taken first to a clinic at Chokli and later to a private hospital in Kannur.A preliminary postmortem report indicated that Deepa Lekha died of stroke. The report also noted that mental stress could have contributed to the condition.The family alleged that the DMO had