THOOTHUKUDI
Tension prevailed at Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital for a while on Friday after the relatives of two accident victims undergoing treatment in the hospital suspected that one of the victims had suffered ‘brain death’ and staged a road roko in front of the hospital.
According to the relatives of construction workers R. Lakshmanan (34) of South Kaaraseri near Karunkulam and A. Sankaralingam (26) of the same village, the duo were returning home on a bike after work in Thoothukudi on Thursday night. When they reached Thattapaarai intersection on Palayamkottai – Thoothukudi national highway around 7.15 p.m., the moped of head constable M. Jayasundari (42), attached to Thattapaarai police station, allegedly hit their speeding two-wheeler even as she was returning home from duty.
Since the construction workers did not wear helmets, both Lakshmanan and Sankaralingam suffered grievous head injuries while Ms. Jayasundari sustained minor injuries.
After the passers-by rushed the victims to the Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital, Lakshmanan and Sankaralingam were admitted to the intensive care unit while Ms. Jayasundari returned home on receiving first-aid.
Against this backdrop, the doctors reportedly told the relatives of Lakshmanan at night that he had suffered ‘brain death’ even as the police claimed that he was alive that triggered tension. It led to
Relatives, friends and a few South Kaaraseri villagers demanded the police and the doctors to come out with a statement on the condition of the injured.
After pacifying the protestors, ASP, Thoothukudi, Selvanagrathinam took the close relatives of the victims to the doctors, who explained to them the condition of Lakshmanan and Sankaralingam and about the treatment being given to them. The protest was withdrawn after the explanation given by the doctors.
Pudukottai police have registered a case.
