2 MBA girls consume banned drug, die

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 26

Two girls doing MBA from Dharamsala Government College died after allegedly consuming banned drug nimesulide.

Sources said Vandana and Diksha, final-year students, were living in a rented accommodation at Sakoh. Vandana belonged to Neri while Diksha was from Badsar in Hamirpur.

On Wednesday night, they took nimesulide and reportedly fell ill. They were immediately taken to the Dharamsala Zonal Hospital. While Dikhsa died at the zonal hospital, Vandana was shifted to the Tanda medical college. Vandana later died at the medical college.

Santosh Patial, SP, Kangra, said both girls, in their dying statement to the police, had stated that they had consumed nimesulide. The owner of the house in his statement to the police said Diksha came to him around 1.40 am and said Vandana was ill and was vomiting. The owner brought Vandana to the hospital.

By the time, Diksha was alright and accompanied Vandana to the hospital. However, suddenly Diksha also felt unwell. Doctors referred both girls to the Tanda medical college. However, Diksha died at 3.35 am.

Vandana was taken to the Tanda medical college where she also died at 6 am. Doctors said both died due to cardio-respiratory failure.

The SP said they had seized the tablets found at their room. Some other painkillers and anti-allergic drugs were also recovered from the room. The SP said nimesulide was a banned drug and they were trying to find out from where the girls had bought it. The viscera of the girls had also been sent for examination.

Drug controller Navneet Marwah was not available for comments despite repeated attempts on the phone.

A professor at Government Pharmacy College said nimesulide was never permitted to be used in the US, Canada, Britain and Australia. The professor said 25 per cent of banned drugs were still being sold in India.