Kathmadnu, May 27 -- Thirty-two-year-old Ganga Karki died on Friday due to postpartum complications. She had delivered a stillborn baby about two weeks ago and her health had steadily deteriorated since, leading her to be airlifted to Kathmandu from Sankhuwasabha. She died at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Thapathali after failing to be admitted to a hospital with a functioning ventilator.

Alongside Karki, at least 24 women have died due to birth-related complications in the last two months, according to the Family Welfare Division of the Department of Health Services. This is an almost 200 percent increase in maternal mortality rate since the lockdown was enforced on March 24. A total of 80 women died from birth complic...