Alleged Ragging, Casteism at Chennai GMC: Nursing Student attempts Suicide, Consumes Sleeping Pills

Chennai: A 17-year-old first-year female nursing student studying at government-run Kilpauk Medical College tried to end her life by consuming sleeping pills. The student alleged that she took this extreme step as she was troubled by the "constant" ragging and casteism on the campus allegedly by two of her seniors.

The nursing student was saved by timely medical intervention.

The medical college authorities, however, refuted any case of ragging stating that a senior student had just scolded her during a class for holding a syringe, which is not included in the first year curriculum.

Read Also: Exam Pressure: MD aspirant commits suicide before appearing for NEET PG 2019

The nursing student stays at the women's hostel in Kilpauk Hospital campus. According to a recent report by Deccan Chronicle, two girls from the hostel allegedly offended her by taking the name of her caste. The student has alleged that she decided to end her life as she was unable to bear the torture of constant ragging by the two students.

She said she was troubled by this action by the seniors that's why she consumed sleeping pills that were prescribed for her father.

TNIE reports that in a few minutes after taking the pills, she herself informed one of her classmates about her attempt. Immediately, the hostel warden alerted the medical college management and the nursing student was rushed to the hospital after she fell unconscious.

Read Also: Study Pressure takes toll: Final Year MBBS Student Commits Suicide in Maha

When contacted, the Medical College Dean P Vanitha Mani informed, "The girl consumed only two tablets of Diazepam 5 mg which were prescribed for hypertension sleeping dose. After treatment, she was stable and was discharged and sent with her parents on Sunday afternoon. She feels sorry for the incident and the two girls had also pleaded guilty".

In contrast to the nursing student's allegations, the medical college authorities stated that the student was merely chided by her senior for handling an injection, which she wasn't supposed to. They also added that the student is young and feeling "homesick".

"The student was posted on clinical duty as part of her curriculum on 5^th January. First-year students are usually trained in patient care. In the second year only, they will handle injections. But, on the day, she allegedly was assisting a doctor in the ward and was seen handling injection. A second-year student, who saw injection in her hand, shouted at her, saying that as a first-year student, she was not supposed to handle injection," the Vice-Principal stated to TNIE.

"The student was already feeling homesick as this is her first experience of staying away from home. Her senior's outburst added to her sickness," the VP claimed while talking to the daily.

However, the nursing student's parents told Deccan Chronicle that she had complained about the ragging issue at the hostel but she said she could manage it.

Read Also: Punjab: MBBS student allegedly commits suicide due to Depression

A case of attempted suicide has been registered with Kilpauk Police and further investigations are on.