A Class 10 student residing at the BC Welfare Hostel in Danavaigudem, Khammam, has become partially paralyzed after she suffered rat bites 15 times in eight months. The rat reportedly frequently bit the student, Lakshmi Bhavani Keerthy, from March to November this year. As a result, the student have allegedly become paralysed in her right leg and hand.
According to her family, Lakshmi was reportedly administered an anti-rabies vaccine each time she was bitten. Doctors at Mamata General Hospital, where she is receiving free treatment, have stated that while her condition is improving, she continues to suffer from neurological complications, reported Free Press Journal. She was shifted to the Mamata General Hospital under the direction of former minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar.
Former BRS Minister Harish Rao Thanneeru condemned the incident, questioning the negligence of hostel authorities. "What do the authorities do when a student is bitten 15 times by rats? Why was she not provided with proper treatment despite being hospitalized several times? What do the authorities do if someone becomes seriously ill and is bedridden? This is a very inhumane incident. The horrific situation of having lost limbs due to multiple rabies vaccinations," he remark.
Former Sathupalli MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah also visited the hospital to meet Lakshmi's mother and family members. Expressing concern over the lack of facilities in hostels and the repeated administration of anti-rabies injections, he took the complain to district Collector Muzammil Khan, as per a report on Telangana Today. Veeraiah urged the Collector to ensure better treatment for Lakshmi and address the appalling conditions at the hostel.