A wave of anguish swept through the Thrissur Medical College mortuary on Saturday after the sudden death of 34-year-old Sineesh, reportedly due to a cardiac arrest triggered by an allergic reaction to anaesthesia.
The incident occurred at the Chalakudy Taluk Hospital, where Sineesh was to undergo a routine hernia operation. According to his family, moments after receiving anaesthesia, he exhibited signs of distress and suffered a cardiac arrest. Though he was urgently moved to a private hospital nearby, a second cardiac episode proved fatal.
Grief soon turned into outrage. Heartbroken relatives, including his mother Shaila, along with local residents, gathered at the mortuary demanding justice. Tearful cries and angry chants echoed through the premises as they blamed medical negligence for the tragedy.
Anticipating escalation, law enforcement deployed additional personnel to maintain calm. The protest de-escalated only after the Sub-collector intervened, promising a thorough inquiry. He assured the family that both the postmortem findings and the Health Department’s internal investigation would guide further action.
In response to the public outcry, Thrissur District Collector Arjun Pandian has instructed the District Medical Officer (DMO) to lead a comprehensive investigation into the sequence of events leading to the young man’s death.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over anaesthesia safety protocols and accountability in public health facilities.