Indian television soap actress Chethana Raj dies at 21 after fat removal surgery

Television actress Chethana Raj, who was known for her roles in popular Indian soap operas, has died after undergoing fat removal surgery at a private hospital. She was 21.

According to several local news outlets, Raj was admitted to the hospital, which specialises in plastic surgery, in Bengaluru, Karnataka on Monday.

Raj is understood to have developed complications from the surgery as fluid started to accumulate in her lungs, and she later passed away after a cardiac arrest.

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Doctors reportedly attempted to revive her through CPR for 45 minutes, but did not succeed.

Raj was known for her work in popular Indian television series such as Geetha, Doresaani, and Olavina Nildana. She also starred in the Kannada film Havayaami.

Local publications report that Raj's parents were not informed by her about the surgery, and instead, Raj went to the hospital with her friends.

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Raj's surgery did not go as planned, and she was rushed to another hospital for treatment.

Per The Indian Express, Raj's father K. Varadaraj said, "My daughter had asked me for permission to undergo a fat-free surgery. However, I declined to give permission and told her that such a surgery was not necessary."

"But she went ahead with the surgery and died owing to negligence," he said. "How did the centre conduct surgery without taking consent from the parents or guardians?"

In India, the age of majority is reached when someone turns 18. Raj's father said he did not know about the surgery until it had already started.

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Raj's father told The Tribune he will be pursuing legal action against the hospital where the surgery was conducted.

"My daughter was hale and hearty. She was absolutely fine. She had gone to hospital with her friends," he said.

"Someone has suggested to her that she had more fat in the waist and without consulting any family member she had come for the surgery."

"She is my younger brother's daughter and she was acting in Kannada TV serials," Raj's uncle Rajappa told IndiaToday.in.

"Somebody had told her to reduce weight as she appeared fat. So, she went to [the] hospital to remove the excess fat," he said. "The hospital is not equipped with an ICU and the surgery was done. After the surgery, water accumulated in her lungs."

"Later, they shifted her to another hospital nearby where she was declared 'brought dead'."