LAKKI MARWAT, Aug 29: A heavily pregnant woman died at a local government hospital on Wednesday morning due to absence of doctors and paramedics.

Javed Ahmad, a resident of Abakhel area, told reporters here that he took a member of his family to the City Hospital, Lakki Marwat at around 5am after she complained of labour pains, but female doctors and paramedics weren’t in attendance at labour room.

He said the woman remained in agonising pain for around an hour and died.

Mr Javed demanded strict action against absentees over death.

When contacted, medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Ghulam Ali said he had already asked a labour room nurse to explain her absence from the duty.

He claimed that the pregnant woman was shifted to the hospital in critical condition a day after she was examined at a private health facility of a lady health visitor.

Dr Ghulam said senior medical officer Dr Ismail Iqbal went to see the woman at 5:30am but found her dead.

Meanwhile, a man was killed by rivals over a land dispute in Naverkhel village on Tuesday night.

Police said Mohammad Yasin along with his brother and another relative was on the way to his house when Mehrullah, Mohammad Azam and Younas Khan allegedly gunned him down.

They said attackers fled after the attack.

Police said the body had been shifted to the City Hospital for autopsy.

They later registered a case against the alleged killers and began investigation. However, no arrest could be made by Wednesday night.