Anger Erupts at MTMC After 21-Year-Old MBBS Student’s Suicide
Jamshedpur, Aug 24: Tension prevailed at Manipal Tata Medical College (MTMC), Jamshedpur, on Saturday after the death of 21-year-old MBBS student Divyanshu Pandey, who allegedly consumed sulphas tablets in his hostel room on Thursday evening. Enraged students staged a protest at the college gate, blocking the entrance for hours and raising slogans against the college management, accusing it of negligence and lack of basic facilities that could have saved their friend’s life.
From 10:30 am, hundreds of students gathered at the main gate and refused to disperse despite police intervention. Many broke down in tears while remembering Divyanshu, while others accused the college administration of “pretending” to provide facilities.
Students Alleged Delay in Ambulance
According to the protesting students, Divyanshu’s health deteriorated soon after he consumed the tablets around 6:20 pm on Thursday. His hostel mates immediately informed the college administration and demanded an ambulance. However, they alleged the ambulance, though present on campus, never arrived for nearly 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, Divyanshu’s condition worsened. His friends tried to make him vomit to reduce the effect of the poison. “He kept pleading with us to save him and saying he didn’t want to die,” a student recalled. “But we had no support from the college.”
As no ambulance came, students said the administration asked them to take him to hospital on a scooty. Finally, a senior’s car was arranged to rush him to Mercy Hospital. From there, he was referred to Tata Main Hospital (TMH) for advanced treatment. But due to heavy traffic, the 20-minute journey stretched to 35 minutes. Students said that an ambulance with a siren could have cleared the way and reached TMH faster, giving Divyanshu a better chance of survival.
Allegations Against the College
The students levelled several serious allegations against the college administration:
- The ambulance exists only “to show the National Medical Commission (NMC),” with no driver and no actual use.
- Despite repeated requests over the past year, no first-aid kit or proper emergency medical facility has been arranged.
- There is no counselling service for students facing depression or stress, despite NMC guidelines.
- Students who raise their voice against the administration are intimidated, threatened with academic consequences, or deliberately humiliated.
- Even during the protest, students alleged that management staff were recording videos and clicking photographs to identify them for targeting later.
Depression and Recent Humiliation
Students further claimed that Divyanshu was already under mental stress due to the loss of his father. Recently, he was appointed as the sports secretary of the college, but a day later he was suddenly removed from the post. This, his peers said, left him feeling humiliated and deepened his depression.
“He was a bright student, but the way he was treated broke him further. The college should have provided counselling and support, but instead, it neglected him,” one of his classmates said.
Police Presence but Protest Continues
Sidgora police reached the spot after being informed about the unrest. However, despite repeated appeals, the students refused to end their blockade. They demanded accountability from the college management and immediate reforms in emergency healthcare facilities within the campus.
Chants of “Justice for Divyanshu” echoed outside the gate as students expressed their determination to continue the protest until action was taken.
Students’ Core Demands
The protesting students listed their demands clearly:
- Immediate availability of a functioning ambulance with a driver, siren, and proper first-aid facilities.
- Establishment of a counselling centre in line with NMC guidelines for students battling stress or depression.
- Assurance that no student will face harassment or academic targeting for participating in protests.
- Transparency in administrative decisions affecting students’ roles and responsibilities.
Fear of Repercussions
While voicing their anger, students also admitted they feared reprisals from the college authorities. “Every time we protest, they first try to scare us and later manage us by threatening our careers. This time, too, we fear they will fail us in exams or harass us for speaking out,” said a group of students.
A Cry for Reform
The tragedy has sparked wider debate among the students about the condition of healthcare and emergency support in MTMC. They said they had earlier sent emails to the management, pointing out the absence of basic first-aid facilities. Despite a year having passed, no steps were taken.
“Had the college taken our concerns seriously, Divyanshu would have been alive today,” the students said collectively.
The protest ended late in the evening but with a warning from the students that they will intensify their agitation if the college management fails to address their concerns and take responsibility for Divyanshu’s death.
