In the peaceful town of Narasaraopet, Palnadu district, a tragedy unfolded that would forever change the lives of one family. Three-year-old Vikrama Aditya, the beloved grandson of Sudhakar and Lakshmi, passed away after undergoing cochlear implant surgery at Anjireddy Hospital. A hospital that, for many, had come to symbolize promises unfulfilled and lives lost in the name of medical care.
Vikrama’s death was no ordinary one. It was the culmination of a story that began with hope and ended in sorrow. His grandparents, having no other option, had admitted their grandson to the hospital despite their doubts. The family had been here before, a past marred by disillusionment and mistrust. Yet, desperate for the best possible outcome, they chose to place their faith in Anjireddy Hospital.
Before the surgery, Vikrama appeared healthy. His parents and grandparents, filled with optimism, had taken all the necessary steps to ensure his wellbeing—conducting various tests, scans, and assessments. All had returned fine. The boy seemed perfectly fine, a little bundle of joy with a bright future ahead. The surgery was supposed to bring him a step closer to a normal life, a life where he could hear the world around him.
But the promises made by the hospital seemed to crumble quickly. The family was told that the surgery, part of the Aarogyasri program, would be free of charge. However, as the day wore on, the hospital demanded Rs. 1.5 lakh from them. Eventually, the amount was reduced to Rs. 50,000, which was paid without even the courtesy of a receipt. A warning sign ignored by the family in their eagerness to help Vikrama.
The hours following the surgery were filled with false assurances. The family was told that the surgery had gone well and that Vikrama was just “intoxicated” due to the anesthesia. Yet, as the clock ticked toward 7 p.m., the unimaginable happened. Vikrama was dead.
The hospital’s explanations were vague and contradictory—claims of fits, a fever, and even a heart attack. As they pieced together the events leading up to the tragedy, it became clear that the hospital was unwilling to take responsibility. The family was left in the dark, their grief compounded by a sense of betrayal.
In the days that followed, the family, heartbroken and desperate for answers, took to the front of the hospital, demanding justice for their grandson. They sat in silence, their tears a poignant reminder of the pain they were enduring. The community, too, was shaken. Locals, who had long heard rumors of the hospital’s shady dealings, began speaking out. Allegations of the hospital’s financial and political influence over local authorities were rampant. It seemed that no one could hold them accountable for their actions.
The authorities had been made aware of the situation, but the question on everyone’s mind was whether they would take action. Would the family’s cries for justice be heard? Or would the powerful forces that protected the hospital once again shield it from the consequences of its actions?
In the end, the death of Vikrama Aditya became a symbol of the suffering that many have endured at the hands of those who should have protected them. A child’s life lost, a family torn apart, and a community left wondering when the cycle of unchecked power and neglect would finally end.
As the family continues their fight for justice, they remain hopeful that no other child will suffer the same fate. Their story has become a rallying cry for accountability, a reminder that every life is precious and deserving of respect, especially when it is placed in the hands of those who swear to do no harm.