January 1, 2016, turned 18 couples into happy parents at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

According to a higher official from the CMCH, 18 babies were born on Friday, of which 13 are girls, and five are boys. Out of the 18, 14 babies were delivered through the Caesarean section.

Meanwhile, A. Nithya from Avinashi, who delivered a girl child on Friday, succumbed to cardiac arrest. Though her death was widely rumoured as a dengue death, officials said that she died of breathing problem.

The woman from Rakkipalayam near Avinashi was reportedly admitted at CMCH on December 28 to get treated for her Thrombocytopenia (deficiency of blood platelets). However, her condition worsened on Friday. Considering her state, she was made to undergo a C-section even though she was only eight months pregnant.

According to doctors Thrombocytopenia exhibits symptoms similar to that of dengue.
“Nithya was tested twice for dengue after she was admitted. The results were negative both the times,” a doctor from CMCH said. Meanwhile, the infant that was delivered weighs two kg and is said to be healthy.