Jaipur: Karishma, the 23-year-old pregnant widow of contractual nurse Deepak Charwal, who died by suicide last month after losing his job, was admitted to the ICU at SMS Hospital Tuesday after an alleged self-harm attempt. Doctors said her condition is critical.Karishma, who is four months pregnant, is being treated in Advanced ICU-3. A senior SMS Hospital administration official said doctors suspect she consumed a poisonous substance. Her condition has raised concerns over both her health and the safety of her unborn child.Deepak Charwal, posted at Mahila Chikitsalaya and employed through a placement agency, died by suicide on June 12, eight days after nearly 400 contractual nurses were removed from service after the agency they were hired through was asked to withdraw its workforce.On June 3, hospitals attached to SMS Medical College had asked the agency to withdraw its nursing manpower with immediate effect on grounds that fresh appointments of contractual nurses have been firmed up by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board.This rendered nearly 400 nurses jobless overnight, leading to their continued protest in Jaipur since June 4. Deepak, one of the protestors, died by suicide eight days later.
