A promising 21-year-old Indian-origin student, Bandna Bhatti, was left paralysed from the waist down after falling from a fraternity house balcony at the University of California, Berkeley, just three weeks before she was due to graduate.
The devastating incident occurred around 1 pm on April 19 at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house during Cal Day — an annual open house event for incoming students and their families. Bhatti reportedly slipped from an external staircase, falling at least 12 feet and striking her head before landing on a narrow passageway.
Her sister, Sonya Bhatti, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $450,000 to cover the cost of Bandna’s treatment and recovery. The fundraiser has already drawn nearly $100,000 from over 1,200 donors since April 26.
“Bandna is a brilliant, compassionate, and resilient young woman who has worked tirelessly toward her dreams,” her sister wrote.
“Now, she faces a long and difficult road ahead, and we are humbly asking our community for help.”
According to her family, Bandna lay outside for nearly 15 minutes before being found and brought inside. However, instead of receiving immediate medical attention, those who helped her were asked to leave the party. Friends then carried her to her apartment, unaware of the severity of her internal injuries. Emergency services were not called until seven hours later.
Bhatti sustained life-altering injuries, including a paralysing spinal fracture, spinal fluid leakage, a fractured scapula, and a brain hematoma. She remains hospitalised and faces an extensive recovery that will require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and adaptive support.
Bandna was completing a Bachelor of Arts in Data Science with a focus on Business and Industrial Analytics and was a member of the university’s Sikh Student Association.
UC Berkeley has acknowledged the incident and said it is cooperating with an ongoing police investigation.
“Our thoughts are with the student, their family, loved ones and friends during this time,”
the university said in a statement.
To support her recovery, Bandna’s friends have participated in a fundraising half-marathon on May 4, encouraging supporters to pledge $5 per mile to raise additional funds.
The GoFundMe campaign highlights the urgent need for specialised care, adaptive equipment, and home modifications to help Bandna regain as much independence as possible.
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