05 December,2025 07:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar
Near the Mahalaxmi racecourse (right) on the ground near Kemps Corner. PIC BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Yesterday, Thursday, December 4, Malabar Hill resident Dina Desai marked a sombre first anniversary. This one did not warrant celebrations but introspection and action. Desai, 73, suffered a heinous injury one year ago at Nana Chowk when she had gone to buy medicines from a pharmacy.
She had placed her leg on what she took to be a grated gutter after her car dropped her close to the pharmacy. The diminutive Desai's left leg went all the way up to her thigh into the gutter grate as two spokes of this grate broke.
Desai's cries for help were heeded, and then, battling excruciating pain, she was diagnosed with a large Haematoma. A Haematoma or blood suffusion is localised bleeding outside of the blood vessels, due to either disease or trauma, including injury or surgery. Some Haematomas can be seen as surface bruises.
The suffering
One year on, Desai said, "I still battle with pain. As a swimmer and walker, I was fairly agile, but this has affected my agility. Since it was my left leg that was affected, I have been using my right leg and putting all my weight on it, so it hurts too. Most of all, the sound of the grate spokes caving in as I stepped on it has stayed with me."
This cycle may serve as warning. Pics/By Special Arrangement
At that time, Desai had followed through to ensure that there was some action taken, and the gutter grate was repaired by the BMC. Personnel had stated that this was not a broken gutter but a âdouble water entrance'. That, though, is a mere technicality. The point is that the infrastructure broke, and a senior citizen suffered as a result.
Action caution
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Desai has turned agony into action. A couple of weeks ago, to âmark' this date, Desai asked people to send her pictures of broken grates or gutter covers. She said, "The pictures started flowing in. I saw broken infrastructure outside the Mahalaxmi racecourse a few weeks ago when I had visited for an art show and was walking back to my car. Many of these photos are taken in upscale SoBo. I want to warn people, I have done so earlier, not to step on this infrastructure. Always look down while walking. Some of these broken covers look strong, but that is deceptive. If spokes could give way under my 50-kg weight, it is entirely possible that these covers may break entirely if somebody heavy steps on them. You will be in severe pain even if just your leg slips in, as I experienced."
Many photos supplied by Desai have been taken by persons who learnt of her initiative. She explained, "This is to create awareness. I hope authorities become proactive, find out about these problems themselves and start repairs. I am also grateful to alert and intrepid citizens who have responded once I announced my initiative on social media, roughly three weeks ago. Yet the sheer numbers and Formula-I speed at which pictures are coming in shows this is a widespread issue. The one-year anniversary is no memorable milestone, just an awakening," Desai concluded.
