Indian American UC Berkeley Senior Suffers Devastating Fall at Fraternity House, Left Paralyzed Weeks Before Graduation
- Bhatti fell at least 12 feet around 1 p.m., hitting her head before landing in a narrow passageway outside the fraternity.
A 21-year-old University of California Berkeley senior was seriously injured in a fall at a campus fraternity house, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down just weeks before her anticipated graduation, according to multiple reports.
Bandna Bhatti, a Data Science major set to graduate this spring, fell from an external metal stairway at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house on Piedmont Avenue on April 19, during UC Berkeley’s “Cal Day” open house celebrations, Yahoo News reports.
According to KTVU, Bhatti fell at least 12 feet around 1 p.m., hitting her head before landing in a narrow passageway outside the fraternity. Her family says she was discovered approximately 15 minutes later and brought inside the building.
“Our beloved sister, Bandna, only 21 years old, was just three weeks away from graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Data Science — a milestone she had worked so hard for — when our world was turned upside down,” reads a statement on a verified GoFundMe page established for her medical expenses.
UC Berkeley acknowledged the incident without confirming the student’s identity. A university spokesperson told KRON4, “UC Berkeley is aware of an ongoing police investigation regarding reports of a student being injured near or at a fraternity. Our thoughts are with the student, their family, loved ones and friends during this time.”
The spokesperson cited federal student privacy laws and university policies that prevent discussing confidential student matters.
According to the GoFundMe page, Bhatti suffered a spinal fracture and remains hospitalized. “Bandna is a brilliant, compassionate, and resilient young woman who has worked tirelessly toward her dreams. Now, she faces a long and difficult road ahead, and we are humbly asking our community for help,” her family wrote.
As of Friday afternoon, nearly $78,000 had been raised through GoFundMe page, to help cover Bhatti’s medical expenses and support her recovery.
Despite the devastating injuries, KRON4 reports that Bhatti’s mother says her daughter remains in good spirits while surrounded by family and friends at her hospital bedside.