KANPUR, Aug. 11 -- In a shocking lapse of medical protocol, a 25-year-old patient referred from Kanpur Dehat Medical College to Kanpur's LLR Hospital died on Saturday night after waiting hours without proper transfer arrangements. His body remained unattended on a bed in the emergency ward of the Kanpur Dehat medical college for nearly 11 hours.

The delay, hospital officials said, was caused by paperwork, shortage of staff, and the absence of an attendant.

The patient, identified only as Sundar, was admitted at 1:15 p.m. by two unidentified men who left immediately. He was semi-conscious and vomiting. Dr. Manish, who was on duty, referred him to LLR Hospital at 2.45 pm for advanced care. However, Sundar was never shifted and remained at...