GMC student’s death shocks

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 22

Mystery shrouds the death of a postgraduate student of the Surgery Department of the local Government Medical College. The student collapsed in the surgery ward last evening. He was shifted to a private hospital in the wee hours today, where he breathed his last.

The boy, Sahil Grewal, originally hailed from Karar Khan Mohalla in Jalandhar. His post-mortem examination was conducted under the supervision of a three-member medical board, following the directions of the Health Secretary, Hussan Lal, who was here to inaugurate the construction of a number of buildings in the college along with Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi. These programmes were later postponed in view of the unfortunate incident.

The family members of the boy have sought an impartial probe into the circumstances which led to Sahil’s death. His grandfather and uncle, Surinder Grewal and Deepak Grewal, said around 6 pm last evening, he talked to his family members. Later, his friends informed them about his deteriorating health. They said several days ago, he had complained about discrimination in the college.

However, the claim was refuted by the Principal of the college, Dr BS Bal. He said the initial test confirmed that he did not have any health problem and his sudden death had shocked the entire faculty and students as well. He said Sahil was one of the bright students of the department.

He said the boy was working in his ward when all of a sudden, he started feeling ill and began vomiting. After first aid, he was shifted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where his heart started slowing down. He said a team of around 12 doctors remained in the ICU, supervising his condition which was showing signs of improvement. However, his condition deteriorated again in the night and a team of doctors from a private hospital was called, which implanted a pacemaker in his heart in order to revive him. With the consent of the family members, he was shifted to the private hospital where he died today.

A three-member board of doctors, including Dr Gurbaljit Singh Mann and Dr JP Singh from the Department of Forensic Science, GMC, and Dr Maninder Singh from the Civil Hospital was formed for the post-mortem examination. They said the boy’s viscera would be sent to ascertain the exact cause of death.

The investigating officer in the case, Gagandeep Singh, SHO, Majitha road police station, said the police had initiated action under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and appropriate action would be taken after getting the autopsy report. Till now, it was a mystery whether it was a suicide, murder or an accident.