Media Release:

Pics: Justin D'Silva

Udupi, Oct 12:: A road traffic accident occurred at 8.40 PM on October 10 at Manipal . Vemula Sudarshan Chowdary (19), an MIT student and resident of Gurazala Mandal, Andhra Pradesh, 19yrs was severely injured and admitted to Kasturba Hospital, Manipal for further treatment.

Despite the doctors' efforts to salvage him, the prognosis was poor and he did not show any signs of recovery or regain consciousness. Vemula Sudarshan Chowdary’s father Vemula Alekha Prasad expressed his willingness to donate viable organs to save other needy patients' lives. Subsequently, Vemula Sudarshan Chowdary was declared brain dead by the panel of expert doctors as per the protocol stipulated by the Transplantation of Human Organ Act 1994 officially twice at 6 hours intervals. The first was at 4.10 PM on October 11 and the second declaration was made at 11.42 PM on the same day.

As per Jeevasarthakathe, SOTTO, Bengaluru protocols and decisions, the liver was sent to KMC Hospital, Ambedkar Circle, Mangaluru, lungs to Aster CMI, Bengaluru, one kidney to A J Hospital, Mangaluru and one kidney, corneas/eye balls and skin were retained by Kasturba Hospital Manipal for the registered patients to save their lives.

Father and Family members of Vemula Sudarshan Chowdary, expressed that, “Organ donation is a noble act and my son has committed a great deed even in his death."

Medical superintendent Dr Avinash Shetty said, "The organ donation is a great work to save lives. I thank the Vemula Sudarshan Chowdary family who decided to donate for this noble cause. The good thing is that day by day awareness on organ donation is increasing among the public," he added.

The harvested organs were transferred to the recipient hospitals with the support of the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada police departments from Manipal to Mangaluru via Green Corridor.