In memory and hope: A camp to honour RGNUL students
(Written by Prisha Arora)
A blood donation camp, accompanied by cadaver and eye donation registration (ROTO-PGI), will be held on May 18 at the Community Centre in Sector 19, Chandigarh, in memory of four students from Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala — Reet, Ishaan, Ribhu, and Kushagra — whose lives were cut short but remain deeply cherished.
Organised by the Reeshaan Foundation, the initiative is a gesture of remembrance and compassion. For Major R S Virk, Reet's father, it is also personal. 'There is no better way to do something meaningful for the privileged than by giving back. For me, this is how I remember her,' he said. 'We are only informing those who truly mattered to her—her closest friends.'
Reet, remembered as a brilliant student with a deep love for animals, recently received her final RGNUL results after her tragic death, scoring exceptionally well. Her classmates, including Ishaan Sood, also did admirably well — a reflection of the promise their futures held. Beyond the donation drive, the foundation is extending support to two orphaned siblings who recently lost both parents. One of them, only 17, had been working to support the household. 'The foundation is now planning to fund their education — another reflection of Reet's giving spirit,' said Maj Virk.
The event will also pay tribute to the Indian Armed Forces, creating a space for silent remembrance and selfless service. 'You're always somebody's blood type,' reads the event's poster — a reminder that giving sustains life, and with it, memory. In honouring the lives of their children, the families behind the initiative hope to build a legacy of kindness — through blood, through education, and through acts of care that reflect what Reet and her friends stood for.
(The author is an intern with The Indian Express)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Indian Express
PGI's multi-level parking in Chandigarh 80% ready, to start operation in July
PGIMER, Chandigarh, is all set to get a new multi-level parking facility next month, built at a cost of about Rs 50 crore. This much-awaited parking, located near the New OPD, aims to ease the growing traffic and parking problems on the campus. The PGI Standing Finance Committee had approved the project in 2015 for a second multi-level parking facility near the New OPD. However, due to multiple delays over the past 10 years, the project couldn't move forward. According to Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director, Administration, PGI, around 80% of the construction work on the multi-level parking will be completed by July, and the facility will become operational, and the remaining work is expected to be completed by November. Considering the increase in patient load and the number of vehicles, the project will provide significant relief to patients and visitors visiting PGI, saving them time. The multi-level parking will eventually have space for over 900 cars, but initially, about 550 cars can be parked by July. The new parking structure is being built over approximately 26,000 square metres of land and will have six floors and one basement. Due to delays over the years, the demand for parking has continued to increase. PGI's New OPD registers more than 10,000 patients daily, many of whom are accompanied by one or two attendants. As a result, around 20,000 vehicles now enter the PGI campus each day. Due to the shortage of parking space, people often park at the Sector 11 market, outside PGI gates, open grounds near the Advanced Cardiac Centre etc. Earlier, PGI was planning on increasing the frequency of its free shuttle service and e-rickshaws to reduce congestion in the institute's parking lots, but as per a security guard, people don't use these services. The existing and designated parking facilities and spaces at PGI are not enough, as the institute struggles with a massive crowd and traffic. PGI currently has a total of 5,505 car parking spaces, including both permanent and temporary. There are 3,753 permanent parking slots, 72 temporary slots in front of the NINE (Nursing College), 180 temporary slots behind the dental block, and 1,500 temporary slots near the swimming pool, with 3,446 parking slots for scooters and bikes. On paper, parking appears to be enough — but the ground reality is different. Every day, heavy traffic, patient vehicles, and staff cars overwhelm the system. It's common to see attendants and visitors driving around in circles looking for a free spot. The new multi-level parking is expected to ease this pressure. Since PGI cannot stop vehicles from entering, many patients are too ill to walk, the only solution lies in expanding and managing parking facilities efficiently. PGI officials say they are working on traffic control and smart parking strategies, with a one-way system for traffic introduced during peak hours.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Makeover of langar area outside PGI in Chandigarh: Work starts to lay new tiles
Come summer, and the heat and humidity take a toll on all those patients and attendants standing in line to get their daily meal from generous men and women who serve langar outside PGI's boundary wall, a service that has been continuing for decades. The area comes under the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, and lacks basic amenities like dustbins and water. A lot of dust gathers due to the uneven ground and lack of trees. As there is no proper supply of water, utensils are washed in the area, with stale water, leftover food, used plates, etc, also causing a foul smell. The PGI authorities had previously requested the MC to create some temporary sheds, dustbins, a system of regular cleaning and water supply, install benches, and deploy a sanitary inspector. Now the area where langar is served has been cleared and the process of putting new tiles has started. As per a worker here, they are levelling the ground and to make the area even and cleaner, new tiles will be put, and it will take a few weeks to complete the process. 'Langar has not stopped. It has been temporarily shifted to the gate near Sector 11. We hope that the area is made cleaner for our langar service. Many of us come from far-off places in Haryana, Punjab and Himachal in our trucks, tempos and vehicles, and serve all meals a day to patients from across the region, who have to be here sometimes for weeks with their family,' says Sukhpal Pal, from Kharar, with kadhi-chawal and besan ladoo to serve lunch to patients. The service was started by Jagdish Lal Ahuja, a Padma Shri awardee, who passed away in November 2021. Known as 'Langar Baba' for serving free food to patients every day for more than two decades, he had begun distributing free food to people outside PGI and later Government Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32 (GMCH-32), since January 2000. Many were inspired by his effort, and since then the langar service has grown, with many part of this initiative. The tribe has grown ever since, with the langars beginning from 10 am and continuing till 10 pm. As PGIMER witnesses an outpatient department (OPD) of about 10,000 patients a day, with attendants accompanying them, the queues for food and tea have become longer. 'To ease the pressure on the area, the MC should create more amenities and probably serve packed food to maintain hygiene, and also create make-shift sheds for the comfort of patients and servers in the heat, and monsoons. This is a service that needs not just the support of people, but also of the Administration,' says Manjeek Kaur, who comes here with her son from a village near Ropar to serve langar daily, except Sunday.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
New lab diagnoses amoebic brain fever, a first in state
T'puram: In a significant development, the state confirmed its first case of amoebic meningoencephalitis through the newly established molecular lab in the state. Health Minister Veena George announced that the diagnosis was made as part of a dedicated effort to detect amoebic brain fever, a rare but often fatal condition. State public health lab (SPHL) earlier set up a PCR lab capable of detecting five types of amoebae known to cause brain fever in humans — Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba sp., Vermamoeba vermiformis, Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Paravahlkampfia francinae. The first confirmed detection was of Acanthamoeba, which was successfully identified and verified through this new facility. Previously, such cases were confirmed at PGI Chandigarh. With in-state confirmation now possible, the minister said it would greatly aid both treatment and research efforts. The minister further said that state has been implementing model interventions in the prevention of amoebic meningoencephalitis. Globally, the disease has a mortality rate of 97%, but Kerala reduced this to 23% through systematic efforts and timely, effective treatment. This success was achieved through structured actions and prompt care. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo State also updated its action plan based on the 'One Health' approach to enhance prevention strategies against amoebae. A comprehensive action plan has been prepared to manage the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease. All suspected cases of brain fever in state are now directed to undergo tests for amoebic meningoencephalitis. In addition to SPHL, the microbiology departments of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode medical colleges will be developed as specialized centres for diagnosing the disease. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
