Indian-Origin UC Berkley Student Suffers Paralysis Weeks Away From Graduation

Her family claims that the fraternity members asked her and her friends to leave instead of calling emergency services. Bhatti has sustained severe injuries and requires extensive medical care.

Bandana Bhatti, a UC Berkeley student, suffered paralysis after falling from a balcony at a fraternity house party.

Source : X

An Indian-origin student suffered paralysis from the waist down, just weeks away from graduation, after falling from a balcony at a fraternity house party in April. 

Bandana Bhatti, 21, who is pursuing a degree in Data Science from the University of California, Berkley, slipped and fell from an outdoor staircase at Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house at around 1 pm on April 19, according to FOX KTVU.

Following the tragic fall, she had to wait for almost seven hours to get proper medical treatment after her friends called 911, as per the report. 

"She cannot walk. She cannot move her body," her mother, Sukh Bhatti, told KTVU. 

Fraternity Party Turn Tragic 

As per the family, Bhatti was at a fraternity party on Carl Day at UC Berkley when she fell around from around 12 feet. She landed on a narrow passageway outside the frat house. 

Bhatti was hit on her head on the way down and was left unattended for 15 minutes before her friends discovered her. 

Her friends then took her inside the fraternity house, however, instead of calling emergency services, the people allegedly asked her and her friends to leave. Not knowing the intensity of Bhatti's injuries, her friends took her back to her nearby apartment, the family claimed. 

It was around seven hours later that her friends finally called 911. 

Spinal Fracture, Severe Injuries 

Bhatti suffered a spinal fracture that led to the paralysis, as per the report. She also sustained several injuries including tearing of the dura with spinal fluid leakage, a scapular fracture, and a brain hematoma, her sister Sonya Bhatti wrote in a GoFundMe page created to raise money for her medical care.

"She is currently hospitalised. These injuries are not only life-altering but will require extensive and ongoing medical care, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and specialised support to help her navigate this new chapter," the page reads. 

The page also mentioned that Bhatti was just three weeks away from her graduation, "a milestone she had worked so hard for."

UC Berkley and the fraternity have assured support to Bhatti and her family.