Kolkata Doctor Waives ₹7 Lakh Bill for Mizoram Girl’s Life-Saving Heart Surgery

Aizawl: A Kolkata-based doctor has earned admiration across Mizoram after waiving a bill of over ₹7 lakh for a six-year-old girl’s heart surgery, ensuring she received life-saving treatment despite her family’s financial hardship.

The girl, Cicilya Laltleipuii, is the eldest of three children from Dilzawl, a remote village without electricity. Her father is a farmer. She has suffered seizures since childhood, and in 2018 doctors found a hole in her heart. Although treatment outside Mizoram was recommended, her family could not afford it until the Zo Inspiration Foundation, a local charity, began raising funds.

In January 2025, Cicilya underwent her first operation at RN Tagore Hospital in Kolkata under the care of Dr. Mrinalendu Das. However, in May her condition worsened due to complications, and doctors warned she might not survive more than two months without another surgery.

She was rushed back to Kolkata and underwent the second operation on July 21, 2025. The total cost of her medical care reached nearly ₹13 lakh. Donations through the Zo Inspiration Foundation covered ₹6.25 lakh, while Dr. Das and the hospital waived the remaining ₹7,24,892.

Cicilya was discharged on July 30 and has returned to her village, which can only be reached by boat during the monsoon. In a viral Facebook post, the Zo Inspiration Foundation called Dr. Das “an angel sent by God,” drawing widespread praise for his generosity and the hospital’s support.