A TISS student died after suffering a medical emergency during class, with fellow students alleging delays in accessing a doctor and ambulance.

A 26-year-old student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) died after suffering a medical emergency during a class on the institute’s campus, with fellow students alleging that the absence of immediate medical assistance and an ambulance delayed his treatment.

P Janarthanan, a first-year student pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Administration at TISS’s School of Health Systems Studies, reportedly developed breathlessness and chest discomfort while attending a class at the institute’s new campus in Deonar.
According to students, the emergency occurred at around 9.05 am. His classmates, including students with medical backgrounds, reportedly recognised the seriousness of his condition and sought medical assistance.
Students alleged that there was no doctor immediately available at the campus health centre and that the institute did not have an ambulance readily available to transport the student to a hospital. They said Janarthanan was taken to the health centre, but were informed that the campus doctor would arrive later.
With no ambulance or institutional vehicle available, a fellow student reportedly took Janarthanan to Zen Hospital in a private car. Students have questioned why he was not taken to the nearby Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Hospital, which is located close to the TISS campus.
At Zen Hospital, doctors reportedly found Janarthanan without a pulse and attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other revival measures for several minutes. He was subsequently declared dead.
The incident has triggered concern among students over emergency medical preparedness at the campus. Student groups have demanded an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death and sought better emergency facilities.
They have called for round-the-clock availability of qualified medical personnel, a dedicated ambulance and a clear emergency response protocol to ensure that students receive timely treatment during medical emergencies.
TISS has expressed condolences over the student’s death and is facing questions from students over the adequacy of its emergency response arrangements.


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