First to return from Iran amidst war, now family awaits her body

Srinagar, Aug 15: In a tragic irony, the 27-year-old Saba Rasool, the first Kashmiri MBBS student to safely return home two months ago during the escalated phase of Israel-Iran, has tragically passed away in an Iranian hospital. Her family now awaits her body, and answers to the allegations of medical negligence.

Saba Rasool, an MBBS fourth year student at Urmia University of Medical Sciences died of an illness, her friends and colleagues alleging the hospital did not do their best to save her life. According to reports, Saba complained of severe nausea, vomiting, and pain on August 13. She was rushed to a local hospital in Urmia where her condition rapidly deteriorated. Her colleagues have alleged it took three hours for an ambulance to arrive, and more time was wasted before she was assigned a bed in the emergency ward. She was reportedly kept on normal saline and painkillers. “We requested for a bed in the gastrointestinal ward, but it was not provided,” a colleague of hers is quoted as saying. Later shifted to the International Patient Department, Saba suffered seizures and tachycardia, necessitating admission to ICU. She passed away soon after in the wee hours of August 15.

Doctors have termed the cause of her death as acute liver failure, and pulmonary complications. “Till she was stable, we had all the reports. After that, nothing,” one of her friends has said.

Saba came across as a symbol of resilience in June this year, when the Israel-Iran conflict escalated and airstrikes and missile exchanges threatened civilian lives. She was among over 110 Indian students who were evacuated under Operation Sindhu by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). She arrived home on June 19, the first from Kashmir to make it back. The videos of her reuniting with family amidst emotional scenes were widely shared. She also spoke to the media about the evacuation of Kashmiri students and the time they spent in Iran amidst the war. Missiles had struck near her hostel in Iran, she told the media. Despite the trauma, Saba’s passion for medicine sent her back to Iran once the university reopened.

On Friday, the entire Safakadal area, where her home is located, was enveloped in grief. The inconsolable family awaited her body to be brought back from Iran. “We want to see our daughter one last time and perform her last rites here,” her family said, appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the MEA for urgent assistance in repatriation. “One last time, she should return home,” a family member of hers sobbed.

Many political figures have joined the family in their demand to bring her body home. Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari expressed condolences and urged the MEA to ensure swift repatriation. National Conference MLA Mubarak Gul appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the MEA for immediate action. PDP leader Iltija Mufti also requested the MEA to expedite the process.

Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Friday wrote to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, seeking his urgent intervention for the swift repatriation of the mortal remains of Sabha

The Association has also urged the Ministry to take up the matter with Iranian authorities to initiate a thorough probe into allegations of gross medical negligence, said a press release.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister, National Convenor of Association Nasir Khuehami urged External Affairs Minister to intervene urgently to liaise with Iranian authorities so that Sabha Rasool’s family can receive her mortal remains without unnecessary delay.