Hyderabad: KMC medical student Preethi dies at NIMS

A mild tension prevailed at NIMS where the PG medical student passed away after battling for life for five days

Hyderabad: The PG medical student from Kakatiya Medical College, Dr D Preethi, who was rushed to the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences ((NIMS) after she reportedly tried to end her life in Warangal, was declared dead on Sunday.

“Despite continuous efforts by a multidisciplinary team of specialist doctors, Dr Preethi could not be saved and was declared dead on February 26, 2023, at 9.10 pm,” read a bulletin issued by NIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Satyanarayana.

Meanwhile, mild tension prevailed at NIMS where the student breathed her last after battling for life for five days. Police were deployed at the hospital to prevent any trouble as some groups staged a protest in the evening demanding that the State government pay ex gratia to Dr Preethi’s family.

Earlier, the Warangal police arrested Dr MA Saif, a second-year MD anaesthesia student of KMC, in connection with the case and was sent to judicial remand by a court. Commissioner of Police AV Ranganath said they would alter the case from Section 306 read with 108 of the IPC to Section 306 (abetment of suicide). If the accused is found guilty under this Section, he would be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine. “However, Section 4(V) of the Prohibition of Ragging Act, Section (1)(r), 3 (2)(va),3 (1)(w) (ii) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act will remain the same,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources said Preethi’s body would be taken to her parents’ home at Boduppal in Medchal-Malkajgiri after a post-mortem examination at Gandhi Hospital. Police said her body would likely be taken to a tribal hamlet near Mondrai village of Kodakandla mandal in Jangaon district as her father Narender hails from there.

Health Minister T Harish Rao termed her demise as extremely painful and extended his heartfelt condolences to her family. He said the team of doctors at NIMS strived hard to save Dr Preethi for several hours, but could not as her condition deteriorated. He said the State government will extend all support necessary to her family.

On behalf of the State government, Panchayat Raj Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the medico’s family. To ensure that such incidents do not repeat, he said the government was probing into the incident and would initiate stringent action against those responsible for her death.

Ministers Mohd Mahmood Ali, S Niranjan Reddy, Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Satyavathi Rathod, Gangula Kamalakar, Talasani Srinivas Yadav and others also extended condolences to her family.