The resident doctors’ strike at Rabindranath Tagore (RNT) Medical College continues indefinitely after the tragic and preventable death of Dr Ravi Sharma, a senior resident doctor who was electrocuted while using a faulty water cooler in the college hostel on June 18, 2025.
Doctors across Rajasthan have condemned the incident, highlighting the safety failures in medical institutions.
Dr Zakir Khan of the All Rajasthan RajMES Resident Doctors Association, while speaking to Edex Live, had revealed that warnings about the faulty cooler were ignored, and repairs were hastily made post-incident to avoid scrutiny.
“Despite repeated complaints from hostel residents about faulty wiring and electric shocks from the water cooler, no concrete action was taken. Students had raised safety concerns multiple times, requesting regular checks of the appliance to ensure their safety,” said Harshad Sharma, Joint Secretary of Indian Medical Association (IMA) from Rajasthan, to EdexLive. However, the hostel warden and administration reportedly turned a blind eye.
After the tragedy, the administration allegedly attempted to manipulate the cause of death in the post-mortem report, omitting electrocution as the primary cause. “It was only after continued protests by resident doctors and students that a forensic medicine team was sent from SMS Medical College, Jaipur,” said Harshad. The investigation confirmed that Dr Sharma's death was caused by electrocution.
The protesting medical community is demanding, immediate action and suspension of those responsible for the negligence and attempted cover-up, government job as compensation for Dr Sharma’s bereaved family, institutional reforms to ensure such incidents are not repeated, including regular maintenance and inspection of electrical appliance, and strict accountability for those who allegedly manipulated the initial post-mortem report.
Doctors and students have condemned the role of the teaching association, who they allege, joined hands with the administration in manipulating the post-mortem findings.
“This is not just about one death. If this can happen to a postgraduate doctor, what about an ordinary person? Anyone can fall victim to such negligence, and worse, be denied justice through administrative manipulation,” said Sharma.
The strike, which has seen full participation from resident doctors, continues to gain support, spreading across Rajasthan and beyond. Black ribbon demonstrations and solidarity protests are ongoing. While emergency and critical care services remain functional for now, protest leaders have warned that if their demands continue to be ignored, these too may be suspended.
Dr Ravi Sharma had completed both his MBBS and postgraduate education and was preparing for a long career in service. His untimely and avoidable death and administrative apathy has sent a shock-wave across the medical community.
The protesting community has declared that the strike will not be called off until the government gives a satisfactory assurance that their demands will be met and such negligence will never be repeated.
