Pune couple dies days apart after liver transplant surgery at Sahyadri Hospital

A family in Pune has been devastated by a double tragedy after a liver transplant surgery ended in the deaths of both the patient and his donor wife within a span of just four days.

On August 17, Bapu Komkar (49), who had been battling liver complications, died following a transplant at Sahyadri Hospital’s Deccan branch. His wife Kamini, who had donated her liver for the surgery, succumbed on August 21 — leaving behind their 20-year-old son and a school-going daughter.

“We trusted Sahyadri Hospital because it is supposed to be a specialty hospital. My sister was in good health, she was the donor. How can she die of complications? It is difficult to believe,” said Balraj Wadekar, Kamini’s brother. The family, already reeling from the loss, now faces mounting debt after taking a loan of ₹12 lakh for the procedure.

The couple’s financial struggles add to the grief. “This year, my brother-in-law couldn’t even pay the ₹40,000 annual fee for his daughter’s school at once. He had to request instalments. Now, along with their loss, the family has to bear the burden of repaying the loan,” Wadekar said.

The family has demanded a thorough inquiry, questioning how both the recipient and the donor could die despite assurances of safety. A post-mortem was conducted at Sassoon Hospital, and the family plans to seek an expert review once the report is available.

In a statement, Sahyadri Hospital expressed condolences but maintained that all medical protocols were strictly followed. “Liver transplant is among the most complex procedures. The recipient, a high-risk patient with end-stage liver disease, developed cardiogenic shock after the transplant.

The donor initially recovered but later suffered sudden hypotensive shock and multi-organ dysfunction that could not be controlled despite advanced treatment,” the hospital said.

For Wadekar and his family, however, grief is coupled with unanswered questions. “We want clarity on what exactly went wrong. Two lives have been lost — a husband and wife — in just days. Someone must be held accountable,” he said.