Tragedy in Kerala: Woman Dies During Home Birth, Husband Refused Medical Help

Malappuram, Kerala: A heartbreaking incident has emerged from Kerala’s Malappuram district, where a 34-year-old woman named Asma died during childbirth at home on Saturday night. The case has shocked the community and brought renewed attention to the risks of unassisted home births.
Asma, who was in her fifth pregnancy, reportedly passed away due to complications during a home delivery allegedly orchestrated by her husband, Sirajudheen, who is known locally as an orthodox spiritual preacher. This marked the couple’s third such Kerala home birth without professional medical assistance.
Authorities say the family was living in a rented house in Kodur panchayat. After Asma’s death, her husband arranged for an ambulance to take her body to Perumbavoor in Ernakulam for burial. However, her relatives grew suspicious and alerted the police.
Perumbavoor police intercepted the burial and sent the body to Perumbavoor Taluk Hospital for medical examination. The primary investigation is underway in Malappuram, supported by local officers in Perumbavoor.
Local leaders and health officials have raised serious concerns about how the pregnancy was kept hidden. Kodur panchayat vice president Saddique Pookkadan stated that ASHA workers were turned away during a recent visit. “She was kept isolated. The husband did not allow any external contact or medical check-ups,” he said.
As the Kerala home birth death investigation deepens, police are preparing to take statements from relatives to understand the timeline and decision-making that led to this tragic loss.