National-level volleyball player Arunima alias Sonu Sinha, who lost a leg after being pushed out of a running train near Bareilly on April 11, was shifted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on Monday night.
The decision to shift her was taken after infection set in on her amputated leg. Ms. Sinha was admitted to the Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) here on Saturday last, where she had to undergo another operation.
The move followed the visit of Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken to the CSMMU on Monday. Mr. Maken met the player and her family members and reportedly assured them that expenses of her treatment at AIIMS would be borne by the Sports Ministry.
According to Chief Medical Superintendent of CSMMU, S.N. Shankhwar, Ms. Sinha's amputated leg contracted more infection, which led to the decision to shift her to AIIMS. Reports quoting the doctors attending on her had said there was a possibility of septicaemia setting in.
Ms. Sinha was brought to the AIIMS Trauma Centre around 8.30 p.m. and was examined by a team of doctors under the supervision of Trauma Centre chief M.C. Misra.
Doctors said her condition was stable, and that her determination, along with the treatment, could get her back on feet.
“We are assessing the injuries she suffered six days ago. There is infection in the amputated leg because she was left unattended and undiagnosed for five-six hours. That has added to the contamination,” Dr. Misra said.
Along with the amputation of her left leg, investigations revealed that both the long bones of Ms. Sinha's right leg are also fractured.
“She has suffered such serious injuries that her pelvis is also fractured. We will also assess her for her spine as she has been complaining of back pain,” Dr. Misra said.
“There are many sports prostheses [artificial devices to replace damaged limbs] available and there are sportspersons who play with help of prosthetics. Arunima is passionate about sports and a girl with strong determination,” he said. “We will try and help her stand on her feet, but everything depends on her strong willpower.”
‘Very determined'
Dr. Misra said Ms. Sinha was “both physically and emotionally drained out. She is lost, she is perplexed, but very determined. She will take time to reconcile and rehabilitate.”
The team that will examine her includes orthopaedic surgeon Vijay Sharma, trauma surgeon Amit Gupta, Sanjeey Bhui of the emergency medicine department, and anaesthetist Chabi. — PTI
Job offer
Lucknow Special Correspondent writes:
Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Sports Minister Ayodhya Prasad Pal called on Ms. Sinha.
The Uttar Pradesh government has reportedly offered a job to her, either in the Sports Directorate here or in the Guru Gobind Singh Sports College in Lucknow. Reports said the offer was accepted by the girl's parents.
A financial help of Rs. 1 lakh to the player was announced by Chief Minister Mayawati.
Ms. Sinha boarded the general compartment of Padmavat Express here on April 11. She was going to Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar) to appear in an examination conducted by the Central Industrial Security Force.
She was pushed out of the train by some robbers when she resisted their attempt to snatch her chain. Ms. Sinha lost one of her legs after being run over by another train passing on the adjacent track.
The incident occurred about 15 km from the Bareilly railway station.
Ms. Sinha was admitted to the Bareilly district hospital from where she was shifted to the CSMMU, Lucknow.
