‘Painkiller After Painkiller’: LNIPE Student Shruti Upadhyay Dies During Treatment, Roommate Alleges Medical Negligence
A college student's death during treatment for an illness in Assam has triggered protests, after her roommate alleged the LNIPE campus doctor gave her 'painkiller after painkiller' for years without improvement. Shruti Upadhyay's mother has also questioned why she was not informed of her daughter's critical condition in time.
A college student's death during treatment for an illness in Assam has sparked protests after her roommate alleged she was given 'painkiller after painkiller' by the campus doctor instead of proper treatment. Shruti Upadhyay, a student at the Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) in Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati, died while undergoing treatment at a city hospital, with the exact cause of death still under investigation. Students at the institute are now demanding a thorough probe into the medical care she received in the years leading up to her death.
What The Roommate Alleged
Upadhyay's roommate, Shweta, said her friend had suffered from severe back pain for nearly four years. She alleged the institute's doctor repeatedly prescribed painkillers even as Upadhyay's condition kept deteriorating. Meerut School Tragedy: 12-Year-Old Student Dies of Suspected Cardiac Arrest in Makwana.
'She was repeatedly given painkillers by the institute doctor but her condition did not improve and the pain kept getting worse,' Shweta said, adding that Upadhyay was eventually told to get tests done at a hospital in Sonapur.
'We want a proper investigation into the treatment she received, the doctors who attended to her and the medical facilities available. Whoever is found responsible must face action,' Shweta said. Thane: Teen Who Scored 95.7% Dies by Suicide After Failing To Get Admission in Preferred College.
Mother Questions How She Was Informed
Upadhyay's mother has raised questions over how the institute communicated with the family during her daughter's final hours, alleging she was not informed about the seriousness of the situation and that Upadhyay called her directly from the hospital.
'I did not receive any call from the institute informing me about my daughter's condition. Shruti herself called me and said, "mummy, I am very unwell. I am in the hospital",' the mother said, adding that she rushed to the hospital immediately after the call.
She further alleged that when she contacted the institute, she was told her daughter was doing fine and being attended to by doctors. 'When I finally reached the hospital and saw my daughter, I could not even recognise her. I was shocked to see her condition,' she said.
Institute's Response So Far
The vice chancellor met the protesting students and spoke with Upadhyay's parents on Wednesday night. LNIPE dean Shankarjyoti Basumatary said the police had been informed about the circumstances of the death and that a postmortem had been conducted.
'We had informed the police about the circumstances under which the death took place. The postmortem was also done. We will follow protocol,' Basumatary said.
The institute's chief warden, Merlin Gogoi, has been suspended following the incident. LNIPE has not yet issued a statement addressing the specific allegations made by Upadhyay's family regarding her medical treatment.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2026 04:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
