Mahendra B.S. 18, who was severely injured in the Pavagada bus accident that occurred on March 19 passed away at Victoria Hospital on Saturday. So far, the accident has claimed the lives of seven people.
A PU college student, Mahendra sustained injuries to his spine and was paralysed neck down when the overcrowded private bus that he was traveling in overturned while negotiating a curve. He was referred from NIMHANS to the Trauma and Emergency Care Centre at Victoria Hospital in an intubated state on March 20.
“The patient was continued on mechanical ventilation and initiated on inotropes in view of neurogenic shock. He was treated with antibiotics, steroids, antiepileptics and other supportive care,” said Deepak S., special officer, Trauma and Emergency Care Centre. He added that scans showed a hemorrhagic contusion in the right basal frontal lobe of the brain. “Neurosurgery opinion was taken and conservative management was advised. However, during the course of ICU stay, he had refractory hypotension and bradycardia, and developed cardiorespiratory arrest March 26 at 6.00 am. He was declared dead at 6.30 a.m.,“ he added.
More than 50 people were injured when the private bus heading towards Pavagada from Y.N. Hosakote overturned. As two services scheduled for the route had been cancelled that day, the bus was packed with people sitting on the top, hanging from the footboard and the ladder at the back. Many of the passengers were students
The incident caused outrage among the public with many blaming the authorities for failing to provide adequate services and not cracking down on overcrowded buses.