The death of a local pharmacy student in the Sambalpur district headquarters hospital on Sunday triggered tension with the deceased’s fellow students alleging medical negligence.
Sources said Amit Kumar Behera, a student of Gayatri Pharmacy College here, had allegedly attempted suicide by taking over 20 quinine tablets as he was depressed over his poor performance in the fifth semester exams. He was spotted by his roommate and rushed to the hospital in a critical condition. He, however, died soon after admission.
The death sparked off an agitation by the students, who refused to let police take the body for autopsy. “Amit’s condition was stable at the time of admission but he died due to negligence of doctors,” the agitators alleged. The situation was brought under control with the interference of a senior police officer.
Additional district medical officer Madhuri Purohit denied any negligence in treatment. “Doctors were present in the hospital but since his condition was quite serious he died soon after he was brought to the hospital,” Purohit said.
