The absence of a neurosurgeon at the Saidu Teaching Hospital claimed the life of a one-and-a-half-year-old child, whose parents awaited treatment for three hours on Friday before the death of their child. Reportedly, the child named Zakria, son of Javed Iqbal of Fatehpur, fell down from the roof of his house and received injuries on his head. His relatives rushed him to the hospital, where they learnt that the neurosurgeon Dr Liaquat seldom visits the hospital, and examines patients at his private clinic after 3pm. “I have been waiting for the doctor for some good three hours, but in vain. The doctor never showed up. As a result of the delay, the child died of his injuries,” said Hussain Ahmad, a relative of the child. The angry relatives protested against the misconduct and absence of doctors from duty, and appealed to the relevant authorities for taking stern action against the doctors responsible. When Dr Liaquat was contacted, he repudiated the charges and said that he was busy in prayers at the time the child was brought to the hospital. He claimed that he rushed to the operation theatre, but found the child already dead. He said the hospital staff tried to help, but a 30-feet fall from the roof was fatal for the child, and that any medical help could not save his life.