A Labasa family’s Diwali plans were shelved yesterday following the death of their eldest son.
Sharneel Chand, 21, the driver of the tractor that was involved in the accident at Tuatua last week, died in a helicopter on Thursday while being airlifted to Suva.
His father Sarish Chand claimed his son would still be alive if swift action was taken.
“It was after eight days that the doctors did Sharneel’s operation. From the first day, I have been requesting the doctors to send Sharneel to Suva, but they said that he was recovering and not to worry,” Mr Chand said.
“Sharneel was in great pain and I suspect the internal bleeding was severe. We trusted the doctors to do their job, but they failed.
“If they had done his operation on the day after the accident, he would have survived,” he said.
Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Veena Bhatnagar said an investigation would be conducted.
“I have spoken to Sharneel’s father, Sarish Chand, and he complained that because of Labasa Hospital doctors’ negligence, his son died,” Ms Bhatnagar said.
“We are carrying out an investigation and this would take us some time. I have told Mr Chand that the ministry has approved and would transport Sharneel’s body in a boat from Suva to Labasa.”
The boat would reach Labasa this afternoon.
The ministry is committed to help and we sympathise with the family’s loss,” she said.
Meanwhile, the late Mr Sharneel’s mother, Rohini Rita said his son was the eldest child and he looked after his two siblings well.
He also managed their sugarcane farm.
“For the past few weeks, he was renovating the house, bought a new sofa, new curtains and said to me, ‘Maa, this Diwali we will decorate the house well so that we can all enjoy.
“Today he is not with us and it pains me so much. The Diwali preparation inside the house carries so much memory of him,” Ms Rita said.
Sharneel’s best friend Atinesh Deo was also trying to come to terms with the loss.
The funeral will be on Monday.
Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the driver of the seven tonne truck has been questioned.
Mr Sharneel was thrown out of his tractor when it was hit by a seven-truck on October 14.