After an alarming discrepancy in maternal health statistics arose, indicating that 3,127 registered pregnant women in Yadagiri district in Karnataka have not been found, the health department in the state has launched a massive investigation. The problem has brought grave concerns in the form of illegal abortions and how female foeticide might occur in the area.
Official statistics for the 202425 reporting period indicated that 31,435 pregnancies were registered in the district. Nevertheless, 28,308 cases have only reported the outcomes such as live births, infant deaths, abortions, and pending deliveries. The other 3,127 cases do not have delivery status recorded, leaving a significant loophole in the healthcare tracking system.
Officials believe that some of the missing cases might be unlawful abortions of a baby, possibly because of sex-determination of the baby during prenatal tests. Other concerns that emerged to lead to the investigation are female foeticide, which is a severe socially spread problem in India.
Besides illegal abortions, the authorities also investigate the argument of false records. There is growing evidence that the Thayi Cards used to monitor maternal health have been tampered with to produce an administrative figure on paper, even though they may not be accurate.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and the Principal Secretary of the Health Department formed a five-member state-based committee to address the alarm over disturbing results by investigating the matter in detail. The committee will not only research Yadagiri but will also consider their practices in other districts to eliminate such discrepancies.
Simultaneously, Yadagiri District Collector Harshal Bhoyar has given strict orders to health officials to track down and deal with unlicensed medical practices and discourage illegal medical practices.
The problem was initially raised in March 2026 after Kannada Prabha reported an allegedly increasing number of suspected foeticide cases in a period of several months, which led to a desperate response from the government.