KOLLAM: The death of Dr Vandana Das has deeply scarred her friends and teachers, who are struggling to come to terms with her sudden departure. As a 25-year-old, Vandana had a bright future ahead of her, with dreams of making an impact in the world. She was preparing for her MBBS convocation in June, when her life was tragically cut short.
Dr Rashid, one of Vandana’s batchmates, remembers her as a hardworking and dedicated student who never gave up on her aspirations. “She had big dreams, and she worked tirelessly to achieve them. But now her dreams have been snatched away from her. The incident will stay with us for the rest of our lives,” he says.
Vandana’s friends also recall her fearless spirit during the peak of the Covid pandemic, when she played an active role in spreading awareness about the disease. “I remember how brave she was during those scary times. She would share Covid numbers and facts on her social media accounts to keep everyone informed. We even took part in protests against atrocities faced by doctors. Now, I’m shocked that she has become a victim,” says Dr Nayan, another classmate. Dr Liqquat Roopesh, who was Vandana’s teacher for the last five years, describes her passion for community medicine and helping those in need.
“She had a strong passion for community medicine, and she’s actively pursuing it. As part of our job, we travel to rural areas to serve the people. However, even in Kerala where law and order is considered to be impeccable, we were deeply saddened to learn of her tragic death. This loss not only takes away a precious human life but also dashes the hopes of millions of people whose lives she could have changed,” he said, his voice tinged with anger.
The body of Dr Vandana was placed at Azeezia Medical College Hospital in Kollam, where her classmates and loved ones paid their respects. The mortal remains were later taken to her hometown in Kottayam, where the funeral will be held.
Police should be sensitised: Dr C J John
T’Puram: The accused had a history of substance abuse. Police should be sensitised to handle unstable people and those under the influence of drugs, said psychiatrist Dr C J John."The accused had a history of substance abuse and showed its symptoms at his house and hospital. He might have been suffering from substance-induced psychosis at that time or mentally unstable otherwise. The exact reason behind his abnormal behaviour can be identified through a clinical diagnosis. The police miserably failed in taking adequate precautions despite seeing him in an abnormal state. He had climbed the wall and jumped into the neighbour’s property claiming that some people were trying to attack him. Police saw him under the influence of alcohol. But they did not identify the potential probability of violence from him," he said.
Chief Minister promises strict action
T’Puram: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visited the private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram to pay homage to Dr Vandana Das. They spoke to the parents of the victim before the body was taken for postmortem examination at the medical college. The chief minister said the murder of the doctor while on duty was shocking and painful. He also said that strong measures would be taken to prevent attacks against doctors and health workers.
Health min’s comment kicks up row
T’Puram: Health Minister Veena George’s comment on the ‘inexperience’ of the young doctor who was killed became a controversy. A section of doctors termed the minister’s comment ‘insensitive’ even after the minister explained that her comments were misquoted. The minister said she was quoting a doctor from the taluk hospital on the incident. “It was unfortunate and cruel that my words were convoluted to create controversy in the face of a tragedy. Everyone knows that I am not the one to pass insensitive remarks on a tragedy,” said Veena. The minister faced more criticism on social media when she changed her profile with the picture of Dr Vandana.