Mumbai family waits for body of ex-Ranji physio who died in Nepal quake

Losing a loved one to a natural disaster is a tragedy But the Chavdas from Andheri are experiencing something worse they know their son breathed his last when the devastating earthquake struck Nepal last week but his body is still lying somewhere on the cold Himalayan mountains where he had gone for a trekVipul Chavda was an avid trekker and also a longdistance runner and cyclist File picThe reason In a situation where thousands may still be alive under piles of debris the dead figure last on the priority list during the rescue mission 39yearold Dr Vipul Chavda who consulted with a private firm in the city had earlier been a sports physiotherapist with the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for nearly five years 20012006 and a consultant to the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCINepal Earthquake Toll crosses 5000 threeday mourning announcedMumbai cricketers said Dr Vipul Chavda inset was very honest about injuries and was also very helpful File picsHe had gone to the Langtang trekking trail a popular trekking destination near Kathmandu reaching the Nepali capital on April 19 and leaving for the trek thereafter ldquoVipul was a longdistance cyclistrunner and a highaltitude trekker He had previously trekked to the Mount Everest base camp as well as several other trails in north IndiaThe earthquake in Nepal hit when Vipul and his other mates had just crossed the halfway point in the trek From what his friends have told us he died on the spotrdquo Dr Ketan Chavda 34 Vipulrsquos brother recounted the sadness evident on his faceWith no point of contact in Nepal at present the family got as much information as possible from one of Vipulrsquos friends from Mumbai Dr Harshada Rajadhyaksha who was also seriously injured in the incident ldquoThe magnitude of the earthquake made the entire mountain shake Fearing for their lives all the trekkers ran towards the seaNepal Earthquake 301 people from Maharashtra rescuedHowever some boulders started falling from the mountains and one of those boulders bludgeoned Vipul to deathrdquo added Ketan All those injured in the incident were airlifted and moved to a hospital in Kathmandu Rajadhyaksha was then shifted to a hospital in Delhi on April 28 and finally brought to a hospital in Mumbai where shersquos still undergoing treatmentLying in the coldldquoVipulrsquos body is yet to be recovered We have already shared a copy of his passport and other details through a guide that was with the group with the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi I have also been in touch with the disaster management team as well as the Indian embassy in Nepal but to no availWe are still waiting to hear from themrdquo added Ketan Vipul had studied sports medicine and done an advanced course in rehabilitation post replacements from institutes in South Africa and UK ldquoOn several occasions he has been successful in preventing permanent damage to many athletesrsquo bodiesHe was passionate about his work as well as other physical activities Today his body is lying somewhere in the open in inhuman conditions waiting to be brought back home All we want is to give him a respectful farewellrdquo Dr Ketan told midday Many cricketers who played both for India and the Mumbai team expressed their shock at the death and also praised Dr Vipul for his workHe will returnWhile Ketan took a few hours to come to terms with the loss of his brother mentor and best friend his parents still refuse to accept his passing ldquoOn Sunday I finally broke the news to my parents They refuse to believe me and are still hopeful they will see Vipul walk through the doors soon All I can do is pray to Godrdquo said the brotherNepal earthquake 10 Mumbai doctors to set up medical camp in KathmanduEvery day Ketanrsquos hopes rise when he gets a call from the disaster management control room only to be dashed when he is told there is still no trace of Vipul ldquoI know that my brother is no more But in my heart Irsquom hoping my parents are right and Irsquom wrongrdquo he said