Telangana: Concerns Rise After Demise of Two Girl Students In IIIT Basara in 48 Hours

ADILABAD: Even as the sensation regarding the death of a girl student prevails in the campus of Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) Basara, or IIIT-Basara- as the engineering college in Telangana is called popularly- the spotlight is once again on it following the tragic demise of another girl student within a span of 48 hours.

The recent incidents have led to questions by parents about the safety of their wards within the institution.

The shock about the sudden demise of V Deepika, a first-year PUC student, on Tuesday by suicide in the hostel bathroom has not yet sunk in when 17 year-old Bura Likhita, and one of Deepika’s close friends, fell down from the IIIT Basara hostel building’s fourth floor at around 2 am on Thursday, leading to her death.

Security guards and students heard the thud of the girl’s body hitting the ground. They immediately rushed Likhita to the dispensary in the campus, where she was given first aid was administered before being shifted to Bhainsa Area Hospital and then to Nirmal Govt hospital. She was, however, declared “brought dead” by doctors there.

After getting notified about the tragic incident at around 2:45 am, Likhita’s parents rushed over to Nirmal Government Hospital, only to find that their daughter had passed away.

Struck by grief upon suddenly seeing the lifeless body of their daughter, suspicions of some foul play were expressed by the parents. Police authorities went with the family to the campus of RGUKT-Basara, where they pointed out the location where the tragedy had taken place.

After a postmortem examination was conducted, the body was released by the police to Likhita’s parents, who then took it to their hometown in Gajwel of Siddipet district.

The tension outside Nirmal hospital was palpable, with students of RGUKT Basara gathered alongside the family members. Serious concerns were raised about the number of students dying recently. Soon things became more politically- charged as Congress and BJP activists started staging a protest in front of the hospital, with demands of accountability raised for the series of such tragic incidents among students.

Appointment of a regular Vice-Chancellor was also demanded by them. The police subsequently arrested the protesting political activists and took them to the police station.

Meanwhile, a thorough analysis was conducted and the scene reconstructed, following which Likhita’s parents and relatives were convinced about her death being an accident. This was also mentioned by them in the formal complaint filed by them with the Basara police.

In the meantime, the findings of the inquiry committee set up to conduct an investigation into Deepika’s death have also been reportedly submitted. According to the report, it was indicated that she had rushed off to the bathroom after officials warned her and several other students about carrying cell phones to the examination centre. Deepika’s tragic death has also been attributed to stress as a potential factor.

RGUKT Vice-Chancellor V Venkat Ramana, while visiting Nirmal hospital to offer condolences to the grieving parents, explained that Likhita’s demise might have resulted from an accidental slip and fall. Use of headphones might have disoriented her, he opined.

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