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A 21-year-old woman who suffered severe injuries during the ongoing student protest-related incident in the national capital on July 20 has made significant progress in her recovery.
But she is still not in a state to narrate how she suffered the injuries, doctors at RML hospital told India Today. Hospital authorities maintained that the patient has been taken off ventilator support after her health stabilised over the last two days.
Sakshi was among about 140 other patients – that included protestors as well some cops brought to the emergency department at RML on July 20 following a police crackdown on supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement seeking education reforms and the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The woman, doctors said, was in "critical condition" at the time of admission and was said to have suffered from asphyxiation, a medical emergency that occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen and also had injury marks on her arms and chest.
"She was unconscious for several hours and could not breathe on her own due to which she had to be intubated," said a doctor.
As of Wednesday, she was the only patient in the RML hospital from the first day of the police crackdown, while the rest, with cuts, fractures, lacerations and vision-related temporary issues and respiratory problems, which are common after tear gas exposure, had been discharged after receiving treatment.
There have been reports that a young man, among several also hospitalised at Lady Harding Medical college, had received what appeared like injuries from a pellet gun on the upper body part and eye.
This patient, some junior doctors confirmed to India Today, had undergone surgery and was stable.
Video and images of this patient were also circulated on social media platforms, but Delhi police have categorically denied the use of pellet guns during the crackdown.
India Today tried reaching out to Dr Sarita Beri, medical director of the hospital, but she was not available for comment. This copy will be updated if and when a response is received.
'WERE WORRIED FOR SAKSHI'
A senior emergency doctor at RML said that Sakshi's prognosis initially was very poor and doctors feared it might get worse. However, she responded favourably following intubation.
On Wednesday, this doctor said, her imaging tests did not reveal any serious damage. "MRI scans of both the brain and spine have returned normal findings, suggesting that no major neurological injury has been detected despite the seriousness of the trauma she sustained," he said.
According to the health bulletin by the hospital, her overall clinical status has been improving steadily under continuous medical supervision.
"A multidisciplinary team of specialists is closely monitoring her progress while ensuring she receives all required treatment and supportive care," it said, adding that her recovery remains under observation, with regular assessments being carried out to track her condition.
