Andhra medical college Medicine, ENT PG students found dead within 5 days

Visakhapatnam: In an unfortunate incident, two postgraduate medical students of Andhra Medical College were found dead after alleged suicides within five days.

The two incidents were reported on September 24 and September 28, respectively. Following the deaths, police have started investigations, while the Medical Education Department has also initiated an inquiry.

The first incident took place on September 24, when a final-year MD General Medicine student was reportedly found hanging at her residence in Ramnagar, according to local media reports citing police officials.

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NDTV reported that the student was under stress after feeling that she had not performed well in an ongoing examination. Her family reportedly told the police that examination-related stress was a factor. Based on a complaint filed by her father, the police registered a case, and the investigation is underway.

The second incident took place four days later, on the morning of September 28, when another postgraduate student was found dead at her rented accommodation. The medico was a first-year postgraduate student in ENT at Andhra Medical College.

According to police, the student also left behind a note stating that nobody should be held responsible for her death. Her body was later shifted to King George Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Commenting on the second death of the student, AMC Principal Dr KVSM Sandhya Devi told TNIE, "The first-year ENT PG student had not brought any personal or academic problem to our or college administration notice. She submitted a letter to the HoD stating that she did not want to continue the course. The letter was forwarded to her office. As she was on leave that day, the Vice-Principal counselled her. She said she wanted to leave and take up a different field as she was not interested in the course."

As she had decided to leave the course, she was asked to collect her certificates from the Principal’s office on Monday. On Monday, when the HoD called her and she did not respond, PG students were sent to check on her. They found her hanging at her residence and then informed the police. 

The Principal said "She had not told anyone the reason for leaving the course. After other PG students learnt about her decision, they spent time with her to find out what was troubling her. However, she told that it was a personal matter and that she would not share the reason. The students and the college administration would have helped her had she shared her problems. Welfare of UG and PG students is a priority for administration."

The two incidents have left shock among students and faculty at the medical college. The college administration said regular counselling sessions were being conducted for students and urged students and parents to approach the college authorities whenever they face any difficulties.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has taken note of the two deaths and directed Medical Education Director A Vishu Vardhan to conduct an inquiry into the incidents.

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