Sr. Velangani Chinnabathina, a 42-year-old Catholic nun and healthcare worker, died in a road accident in eastern India’s West Bengal state on April 7, according to reports shared by Catholic Connect.
Sr. Velangani, a nurse serving at Karuna Holistic Hospital in Buniadpur, was returning home from work when the incident occurred near Mehendipara, a locality in West Bengal. Catholic Connect reported that she was traveling on a scooter when a truck struck her from behind, throwing her onto the road. She is believed to have died at the scene.
She was later taken to a nearby hospital, where initial procedures were completed. A post-mortem examination was scheduled for April 8, Catholic Connect added.
Buniadpur is a small town in the Dakshin Dinajpur district, a largely rural part of West Bengal in eastern India, where access to quality healthcare remains limited. Sr. Velangani served at the Church-run Karuna Holistic Hospital, administered by the Daughters of the Cross, which provides essential medical services to underserved communities in the region.
A member of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Sr. Velangani joined religious life in 2000 and made her final profession in 2014. She dedicated her vocation to the healthcare ministry, particularly among the poor and marginalized.
Beyond her work as a nurse, she held several leadership roles within the Church’s healthcare network in India. She served as Regional Health Secretary for West Bengal, Regional Coordinator of the Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CMHM) in the state, and as a National Board Member of the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI), one of the largest faith-based healthcare networks in the country.
Fr. Shinto, National Secretary for Mental Wellness, described her death as “a great loss for the Church in India,” highlighting her contributions to mental health and community-based care.
Sr. Velangani’s sudden death has shocked the local Catholic community and colleagues in the healthcare ministry across India.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
