HYDERABAD: A month after Telangana deputy chief minister Dr T Rajaiah's official convoy rammed into a car and grievously injured a few passengers, one of them died in a hospital, triggering severe backlash from minority and dalit groups, who have called the minister "insensitive and inhuman."

The victim, Gulam Sadiqunnisa Begum, 48, died on Friday, leaving behind a 6-year-old daughter Shahzaadi Mahbeen, brother in-law Naimullah Khan and husband Ghulam Ghouse, who also sustained injuries when an escort vehicle of the convoy lost control on the outskirts of Warangal on November 30 and hit their vehicle. While Khan, an employee at Warangal Food Corporation of India and resident of Hanamkonda, is still recuperating, Sadiqunnisa Begum succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Warangal.

"She complained of breathlessness and died within 15 minutes after we rushed her to a private hospital in Warangal," her husband Ghouse said.

A devastated Ghouse told TOI that despite Rs 5.5 lakh funds released by the authorities under CM's relief fund for his wife's treatment following a representation made to health minister Rajaiah, he spent more than a lakh from his pocket, but all went in vain.

"On December 9, she was discharged from Care hospitals and we brought her back home, but the very next day she developed complications. She didn't survive this time," added Ghouse. Sadiqunnisa's death sparked fury with minority and dalit leaders coming together to hit out against health minister Dr T Rajaiah, slamming the latter for his alleged 'inhuman' and 'insensitive' attitude towards the accident victim.

"It is shocking how a minister can be so insensitive even after knowing that his convoy vehicle led to the death of a victim in his own district for no fault. Neither he condoled the deceased's family nor did he send somebody to check her condition. Who will take care of her only child now," asked Syed Rafiuddin, a member of district peace committee, Nalgonda, who attended the funeral.

While recalling the trauma faced by her family to seek financial assistance for treatment, Rafiuddin said, "The minister had spent nights at Osmania and Bhadrachalam hospitals but it is shocking how he could forget the plight of the accident victim. We had to personally meet him during his night stay at a government hospital in Bhadrachalam sometime back to request for grant of funds."

When contacted, Dr Gangadhar, officer on special duty (OSD) to health minister Dr T Rajaiah, said that they had already issued a letter seeking a credit worth Rs 5.5 lakh under CM Relief Fund towards treatment of the injured in the convoy accident.

"We took personal interest in the case. For ex gratia, we will ensure that whatever is due as per law, reaches the victim's family," he said.

Source: TOI