Suspected drug overdose kills medical intern, another critical

A medical intern at the premier state-run SSKM Hospital here died and another was in a critical condition after a suspected drugs overdose.

"Saptarshi Das and Sahabad Siddiqui, both in their early twenties, were found in a critical state in the hostel room early in the morning. Das died while Siddiqui, who is from Patna, is in a critical case on ventilator support in the ICU," Hospital's Director Pradip Mitra said.

Drugs and a syringe were found from the hostel room where the two had spent the night.

Mitra said it was suspected that it might be a case of drug overdose but the reason for death would be known only after the post-mortem report. The hospital has started an inquiry while the police were waiting for the post-mortem report.
Minister Madan Mitra, who is the co-chairman of SSKM's patient welfare committee, has also sought a report from the hospital management.

"It needs to be investigated how drugs came into the hospital premises. However well-connected they are, theculprits must be caught," Mitra said.