TISS Student Dies After Cardiac Arrest, AISF Demands Probe

A 26-year-old postgraduate student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a class on Monday. The student, P. Janarthanan, reportedly suffered breathlessness and later died despite being taken to a hospital.

The All India Students’ Federation (AISF) Mumbai has demanded an independent inquiry into the death, raising questions over the availability of emergency medical facilities at the institute’s Deonar campus. According to AISF, an ambulance was not available on the campus when Janarthanan required urgent medical attention, and a fellow student had to take him to a hospital in a private vehicle.

AISF has questioned why the student had to be taken to a hospital some distance away instead of receiving emergency treatment at a nearby medical facility. The organisation has also demanded that TISS publicly disclose details of its existing emergency medical arrangements, including the availability of ambulances, trained medical personnel, and emergency protocols.

The incident has highlighted the need for educational institutions to have systems capable of responding immediately to life-threatening medical emergencies. AISF has termed the reported lack of an ambulance at TISS particularly concerning given that the institute offers programmes related to public health and health administration.

AISF has demanded the immediate deployment of a fully equipped ambulance and round-the-clock emergency medical services at the Deonar campus. The organisation has also called for a wider review of emergency medical facilities at universities, colleges, hostels, and paying guest accommodations in Mumbai and across the country.

The student body has linked the incident to broader concerns over student safety and emergency preparedness, referring to the recent deaths of students in the Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi. AISF has argued that institutions must have adequate systems in place to respond to emergencies and that responsibility should not be shifted onto individual students or faculty members.

The incident has raised serious questions about the preparedness of educational institutions to deal with medical emergencies and the value placed on students’ lives. AISF has demanded that responsibility be fixed if any negligence, delay, or failure to follow established emergency protocols is found during an inquiry.

In the wake of this incident, it is essential for educational institutions to review their emergency medical facilities and ensure that they have adequate systems in place to respond to life-threatening emergencies. The incident has also highlighted the need for a wider discussion on student safety and emergency preparedness in educational institutions.

The death of the TISS student is a tragic reminder of the importance of having adequate emergency medical facilities in educational institutions. It is crucial for institutions to learn from this incident and take necessary steps to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The incident has significant implications for the safety and well-being of students in educational institutions. It is essential for institutions to prioritize student safety and ensure that they have adequate systems in place to respond to emergencies. The demand for an independent probe and the deployment of emergency medical services at the Deonar campus is a step in the right direction towards ensuring student safety.

In conclusion, the death of the TISS student has raised serious concerns about the preparedness of educational institutions to deal with medical emergencies. It is essential for institutions to review their emergency medical facilities and ensure that they have adequate systems in place to respond to life-threatening emergencies. The incident has also highlighted the need for a wider discussion on student safety and emergency preparedness in educational institutions.