Vijayawada Government General Hospital (GGH), a 1,250-bed tertiary care facility in Andhra Pradesh, awoke to tragedy on February 5, 2026, when post-graduate final-year anaesthesia student Battula Deepika was discovered dead under suspicious circumstances. The 28-year-old was found motionless on an operation theatre table around 6 AM, prompting an immediate police response. Deepika, a resident from the hospital's anaesthesia department, had been on duty from 4 PM to 8 PM the previous day, highlighting the grueling schedules PG medics often endure amid India's doctor shortage crisis.

Preliminary inquiries reveal Deepika felt hungry during her shift and requested food from a classmate. Later, complaining of severe abdominal pain, she asked a junior colleague to administer an unidentified injection—possibly pain relief or anti-spasmodic. Hours later, she collapsed; frantic CPR efforts by on-duty doctors failed to revive her. The body was swiftly shifted to the hospital mortuary for autopsy at GGH's forensic wing, with results expected within 48 hours to clarify if anaphylaxis, overdose, or toxin was involved.

Vijayawada police, led by Commissioner Rajasekhar Babu, have launched a detailed probe under Section 174 CrPC (unnatural death). Teams are scrutinizing CCTV footage from 20+ OT cameras, interviewing 15 staff including the junior who gave the injection, and collecting syringes/vials for toxicology. Forensic experts will test for common culprits like lidocaine overdose or contaminated meds. No suicide note was found, shifting focus to potential medical negligence or external factors.

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Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav expressed profound grief, personally consoling Deepika's father via call and pledging comprehensive family support, including ex-gratia compensation. He ordered a time-bound inquiry, directing police to explore harassment claims amid rising reports of PG resident stress. Hospital Superintendent Dr. A. Yedukondala Rao confirmed an internal five-member committee to probe duty logs, drug administration protocols, and workplace dynamics.

GGH has instituted a parallel internal audit, recording statements from all involved and checking Deepika's recent attendance for burnout signs. NTR District Collector M. Venkatappa instructed Superintendent Rao to submit a detailed report within 72 hours, emphasizing transparency. The incident echoes similar cases like the 2024 Kolkata R G Kar tragedy, reigniting calls for better security and mental health support for India's 80,000+ PG doctors.

As Vijayawada mourns, authorities urge calm while promising swift justice. The post-mortem and forensics will be pivotal, with updates expected soon amid public outrage over medic safety.

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