Among those still under medical care are two patients with serious burn injuries, currently admitted at KEM Hospital, and an eight-year-old boy suffering a head injury, now under observation by a team of neurospecialists at the same hospital
Shabaj Qureshi uses a tarpaulin sheet to cover the area where MHADA officials demolished a wall of his house. PIC/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR
Just days after the devastating Bharat Nagar chawl collapse in Bandra East — triggered by an LPG gas leak — there is a fragile thread of hope running through the debris. On Monday, eight of the 15 injured victims were discharged from KB Bhabha Hospital in Bandra.
“We have ensured that they have a house to stay in and only then discharged them. When we informed them that they can be discharged, we asked each one of them where they are going to stay and if proper care will be taken as their injuries haven’t healed completely and will take at least another month or so for complete recovery,” said Dr Vinod Khade, medical superintendent of Bhabha Hospital.
Among those still under medical care are two patients with serious burn injuries, currently admitted at KEM Hospital, and an eight-year-old boy suffering a head injury, now under observation by a team of neurospecialists at the same hospital. “He is stable but under close watch,” confirmed a hospital official, adding, “In case we see any minute difference in behaviour or eating patterns, or eyesight issues, further tests will be done. But as of now, he is stable and is fully conscious.”
While one patient was treated in the OPD of Bhabha Hospital on the day of the incident and discharged immediately, three patients are still undergoing treatment there. “The doctors said that they might discharge me on Tuesday. But my mother, Hasina Shaikh, is going to need surgery as she has a fracture in her right foot and there is a lot of blood clogging as well,” said Asif Shaikh.
Future uncertain
However, these patients now stare at an uncertain future as they lost the roof over their heads in the blink of an eye during the fatal July 18 tragedy. “We have lost 98-99 per cent of our belongings. I do not even have any clothes to wear. I am using my cousin brother’s clothes,” said Saddiq Shaikh, brother of Asif Shaikh.
It’s not only those whose houses collapsed that are suffering, but also those who extended their houses illegally, as they are now facing action by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). “On Monday, officials came and simply demolished the wall that was adjacent to the house that collapsed. We have now covered it with a tarpaulin sheet and don’t know what to do next. Our family is big and we built the upper floors when family members increased. Now we are confined to just the ground and first floor. The second floor is now useless as the wall has been demolished,” said Shabaj Qureshi, a resident of Bharat Nagar.
Stepping in to help
“Though we have been discharged, our son is still admitted to KEM Hospital. So, we cannot go to any faraway place. We are currently staying at my mother’s home in Sion so that we can visit our son daily. It’s difficult to travel as we are also badly hurt, but he is in much more pain, and so we do not have any option,” said Noori Khan, mother of the eight-year-old.
Adding to her, another discharged patient, Shabana Sayyed, told mid-day that her husband’s friend, who stays in the same locality, has made them feel at home. “He and my husband have been friends since childhood. Though their house is also small, considering that none of the relatives stay close by, they asked us to stay with them as long as we get better and can find a place for ourselves,” said Sayyed.
MHADA action
In the aftermath, MHADA has begun demolishing unsafe and illegal constructions in the area, launching a long-overdue crackdown. “We’ve been warning about these unsafe structures for years. Now lives have been lost or changed forever,” said Milind Borrikar, chief officer, MHADA Mumbai Board. MHADA officials stated that a survey of surrounding structures is ongoing, and notices will soon be issued to other high-risk chawls.
“Though demolition and evacuation are prohibited during monsoon season, considering that such an incident can happen again if actions are not taken immediately, we are prioritising evacuation and structural audits along with demolition of dangerous, illegal, and dilapidated structures to prevent another tragedy,” Borrikar told mid-day.
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