Patna: A large number of engineering students staged protests on a college campus in Sitamarhi district on Saturday following the death of one of their classmates during treatment at Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH). The deceased, a final-year engineering student of Sitamarhi Institute of Technology (SIT) in Gosaipur under the Dumra police station area, died while undergoing treatment, triggering unrest on the campus as students alleged negligence on the part of the college administration. Doctors said she died due to a brain haemorrhage.According to hostel residents, the student had been unwell for three days and did not leave her room during that period. They alleged that neither the hostel warden checked on her condition nor were her parents informed. On Thursday morning, after having breakfast, her condition worsened and her blood pressure rose sharply, causing anxiety and later unconsciousness. She later died during treatment that night.Senior officials reached the campus and held discussions with the agitating students, assuring them of a fair inquiry and appropriate action. Police were deployed on the campus as tensions continued for around six hours.The deceased student was identified as Medha Parashar (22), a resident of Sultanganj in Bhagalpur. She had taken admission to the institute in 2022 and was residing in the girls’ hostel on the campus.Angry students held large-scale protests against the college administration. For nearly one hour, students gathered outside the principal’s office, holding Medha’s photograph and raising slogans. They also demanded the resignation of the principal.A third-year student, Janvi, said, “On Thursday, Medha ate breakfast in the morning. After this, suddenly her health started deteriorating. Due to high BP, she started feeling anxious. We immediately went to the warden first, but they did not help us. The warden told us, ‘You people take Medha to the principal. I cannot help in this matter.’”Janvi said as Medha’s condition worsened further, she was taken to the principal’s office. “After waiting for 10 minutes, we met the principal. We asked for his personal car to take her to the hospital, but he refused,” she said.College principal Sunil Kumar said, “Medha was taken to the hospital in a faculty member’s car. My driver was not there, so I did not give my car to the students.”Sub-divisional magistrate Anand Kumar said the administration would probe the matter. “If anybody’s negligence is found, action will be taken. However, the deceased student’s family has not filed any complaint against the college,” he added.
