Udupi: Hours after fatal accident, Merita's family donates her eyes
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Updated
Udupi, Oct 3: In a noble gesture, the family of Merita D'Silva donated her eyes hours after she died in a tragic accident.
Merita (23), daughter of Peter and Precilla D'Silva, died after a fish truck rammed into her near Mabukala bridge at Brahmavar, just as she was walking towards a bus that had halted to pick up passengers. The truck also hit the bus, causing injuries to 10 passengers.
Dr Samanth Shetty of Prasad Netralaya conducted the procedure. The corneas of Merita's eyes are being donated.
It is learnt that Merita's two brothers Melwin and Mathew are suffering from visual impairment, and if the corneas match any one of them, they would be tranplanted. If not, they would be reserved for other patients in need.
The corneas can be preserved for about four days for transplantation, and if no match is found by next Wednesday (October 7), they would be used for research, sources at Prasad Netralaya said.
Speaking to daijiworld, Anil Rodrigues, trustee of St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Brahmavar, said, "The donation was not planned, but the thought flashed as her two elder brothers are suffering from visual impairment. Hence, her family members decided to donate her eyes to them. If they do not match, then Prasad Netralaya will contact other patients who are in need."
Earlier Report
Udupi: Truck kills young woman, injures 10 bus passengers at Brahmavar
Suvarna Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Oct 3: A young woman was killed and around 10 passengers were injured in an accident near Mabukala bridge in Brahmavar here on Saturday October 3.
The deceased has been identified as Merita D'Silva (23), who was working as clerk at SMS College, Brahmavar.
The accident took place when a fish truck rammed into Merita when she was walking towards a bus which stopped to take in passengers a little distance away. After hitting Merita, the truck smashed into the bus also from behind.
Merita was rushed to a hospital in Brhamavar where she breathed her last.
Ten other passengers in the bus were injured and admitted to a private hospital in Brahmavar.
The fish truck was plying from Kundapur to Udupi.
Brahmavar police have registered a case.