Thiruvananthapuram: On September 1, 2010, one of the major news items in the Malayalam press was about a group of students who had averted a major mishap by waving red bags at a train after noticing cracks in the rails.
The students were led by Anujith, who was a student of Chandanathoppu ITI and son of Sasidharan Pillai of Vishnu Mandir, at Irumbanangadu, Ezhukone, in Kottarakkara.
After noticing the cracks on the rails, Anujith and his friends ran on the tracks for half-a-kilometre, waving the red bag that was used to carry books. An approaching train, with hundreds of passengers, was able to stop in time, and a major accident was prevented.
Anujith (27), who saved the lives of hundreds of people back then, set an example even at the time of his untimely death by saving the lives of a few more people.
Anujith died of brain haemorrhage while undergoing treatment at the KIMS Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram following an accident. After his death, his relatives volunteered to donate his organs.
His heart, kidneys, both the eyes, small intestine and hands were donated; eight people were the beneficiaries.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Health Minister KK Shailaja expressed their gratitude and respect to the family who volunteered to donate the organs even amid extreme grief.
Shailaja said she shares the pain of the family at the loss of Anujith, who became a role model by saving the lives of many even after his death.
Anujith met with the accident while riding his bike near Kottarakkara on July 14. He was rushed to Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital in a critical condition. He was then shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and KIMS Hospital. He died on July 17. His death was confirmed by two apnea tests.
His wife Princy and sister Ajalya were aware of the potential for organ donation. They came forward and volunteered to donate his organs.
The organ donation process was started under Mrita Sanjeevani (KNOS), a scheme of the government of Kerala for organ donation after death.
The arrangements for the organ donation were done with the help of the Chief Minister, the Health Minister and several other state departments.
The heart was donated to Sunny Thomas (55) of Thripunithura after it was transported from Thiruvananthapuram. It was a challenging task to deliver the heart on time to the patient who was undergoing treatment in Ernakulam.
The chief minister directed that a helicopter that was hired by the state government be made available for transporting the heart. This was the helicopter’s second organ deployment mission.
The organ donation became successful due to the coordination of various government departments, including the Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam district administrations, the health, police and traffic departments.
Dr A Ramla Beevi, director of medical education; Dr Thomas Mathew, joint Director; Dr Sarah Varghese, Mrita Sanjeevani state convener and principal of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College; and Dr Noble Gracious, nodal officer, Mrita Sanjeevani, led the organ donation process.
Anujith, who was a driver in a private company, was working as a salesman in a supermarket in Kottarakkara after the COVID-19 lockdown.
He is survived by his wife, Princy, an employee of a private jewellery store, a three-year-old son, mother Vijayakumari, and father Sasidharan Pillai, who does farm work.
The family, which was living in great distress, has lost its main earning member. But even though it was pushed to greater misery by his death, it went about ensuring that at least eight people will live longer and better.
