Andhra chainsaw attack: Accused loses leg, victim Gopika off ventilator
Synopsis
The man who attacked a 15-year-old schoolgirl with an electric chainsaw inside her Anantapur classroom has lost his right leg to amputation, while his victim Gopika is off the ventilator and speaking for the first time since the assault — two grim milestones in a case that has shaken Andhra Pradesh and raised urgent questions about school safety.
Key Takeaways
Chainsaw attacker Hemanth, 21 , had his right leg amputated at Government General Hospital, Anantapur past midnight on Monday due to loss of blood circulation from police gunshot injuries.
Victim Gopika, 15 , has been taken off the ventilator and is speaking one word at a time, confirmed Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Tuesday .
Gopika is being treated at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru ; high-flow oxygen is being gradually reduced and she is on nasal nutrition.
The attack occurred on 31 October at Zilla Parishad High School, Raptadu ; Hemanth was shot by police while fleeing into the Atmakur forest area on 1 November .
HRD Minister Nara Lokesh visited the hospital Monday and confirmed no major ophthalmology or neurosurgery concerns; further orthopaedic surgery is expected later this week.
The accused in the Anantapur electric chainsaw attack, 21-year-old Hemanth, has had his right leg amputated after sustaining gunshot injuries during a police chase, while his victim, 15-year-old Gopika, a Class 10 student, has been taken off the ventilator and is now able to speak, doctors confirmed on 3 November 2026. The developments mark a significant turn in one of the most disturbing school violence cases in recent Andhra Pradesh memory.
Accused's Condition After Amputation
Hemanth's right leg was amputated at Government General Hospital, Anantapur, past midnight on Monday, according to Hospital Superintendent of Police Malliswari. The leg had deteriorated due to a complete loss of blood circulation following the police firing on 1 November, when Hemanth was shot while attempting to flee into the Atmakur forest area. Doctors were forced to amputate below the knee. A separate surgery was also performed on his left leg.
Following the procedures, Hemanth was moved to the Acute Medical Care Unit, where his condition is reported to be stable.
Victim Gopika's Recovery Progress
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Health and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav confirmed on Tuesday that Gopika is stable and no longer on the ventilator. Speaking to reporters, the minister said surgeons had successfully removed the ventilator post-operation, and Gopika is now speaking — one word at a time. Doctors are gradually tapering high-flow oxygen support, and she is receiving nutrition through a nasal tube. She continues to receive treatment at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru.
HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, who visited the hospital on Monday, also posted an update, stating: 'The girl child is showing steady improvement. Eyes are open and all vital parameters remain stable. Initial ophthalmology and neurosurgery reviews show no major concerns. Further detailed eye evaluations and ortho surgery will follow later this week. Continuous monitoring is underway, and we are praying for a full and speedy recovery.'
How the Attack Unfolded
On 31 October, Hemanth forced his way into a classroom at Zilla Parishad High School in Raptadu, Anantapur district, and attacked Gopika with an electric chainsaw in front of her classmates. The teenager sustained severe injuries to her head, face, and back. According to investigators, Hemanth is a close relative of the girl and carried out the attack after she rejected his romantic proposal — a chilling escalation of what authorities describe as targeted personal violence inside school premises.
Hemanth was subsequently tracked down and shot during a police encounter in the Atmakur forest area on 1 November, leading to his hospitalisation and the eventual amputation.
Institutional Response and What Comes Next
The case has triggered wider concern about school safety protocols in Andhra Pradesh, particularly the vulnerability of students to outsiders entering campus grounds unchallenged. State ministers have been personally monitoring Gopika's medical status, reflecting the political and public weight the case carries. Further orthopaedic surgery for Gopika is expected later this week, with detailed eye evaluations also scheduled. The state government has not yet publicly outlined any changes to school security frameworks in the wake of the attack.
Point of View
But the institutional questions it raises remain unanswered. A 21-year-old walked into a functioning government school mid-session with an electric chainsaw — that failure of basic perimeter security deserves as much scrutiny as the criminal act itself. State ministers have rallied around Gopika's bedside updates, but there has been no public reckoning with how schools across Andhra Pradesh will prevent a recurrence. High-profile sympathy without structural follow-through is the predictable political response; what the case demands is a hard audit of school entry protocols statewide.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Anantapur chainsaw attack?
On 31 October 2026, a 21-year-old man named Hemanth entered a classroom at Zilla Parishad High School in Raptadu, Anantapur district, and attacked a 15-year-old Class 10 student named Gopika with an electric chainsaw. The girl suffered severe injuries to her head, face, and back. Hemanth, described as a close relative of the victim, reportedly carried out the attack after she rejected his proposal.
Why was Hemanth's leg amputated?
Hemanth was shot by police on 1 November while attempting to escape into the Atmakur forest area. His right leg subsequently lost blood circulation and had to be amputated below the knee at Government General Hospital, Anantapur, past midnight on Monday. A surgery was also performed on his left leg; he is currently in stable condition in the Acute Medical Care Unit.
What is Gopika's current condition?
Gopika has been taken off the ventilator and is able to speak one word at a time, according to Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav. She is receiving treatment at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, with high-flow oxygen being gradually reduced and nutrition administered through a nasal tube. Further eye and orthopaedic surgeries are expected later this week.
What did HRD Minister Nara Lokesh say about Gopika?
Minister Nara Lokesh, who visited Gopika at Manipal Hospital on Monday, posted an update stating that her eyes are open, all vital parameters are stable, and initial ophthalmology and neurosurgery reviews show no major concerns. He said detailed eye evaluations and orthopaedic surgery will follow later in the week and that continuous monitoring is underway.
What motive did police attribute to the attack?
According to investigators, Hemanth is a close relative of the victim and allegedly attacked Gopika after she rejected his romantic proposal. He entered the school's classroom mid-session and carried out the assault with an electric chainsaw before fleeing, and was later tracked down and shot by police.
