Relatives of accident victims admitted to Kalwa hospital say access to their kin is being severely restricted, but netas and VIPs were allowed to visit ICU before everyone else. Relatives of Mumbai train tragedy victims say they were denied time with loved ones as politicians and VIPs entered ICU freely. Several patients remain critical
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa, where some of the victims of the Mumbra rail tragedy are receiving treatment. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
When we got the call in the morning, I thought it was a prank. It was only when they put my brother on the line, I realised that it was true,” Rushika Bhagat, the sister of 22-year-old Tushar Bhagat, who sustained injuries to his head in the mishap near Mumbra station, told mid-day.
Tushar was on his way from Titwala to Thane. “Though luckily, he did not fall off the train, we were informed that he was right behind the constable who died. The impact of the fast trains was so high that my brother sustained fractures along with the head injury,” she added.
Relatives’ frustration
Rushika, along with the families of victims, had been waiting outside the ICU of Kalwa’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital for hours. As politicians and other stakeholders met the victims first, many relatives of patients expressed their frustration, saying that they did not get more than five minutes to talk to their loved ones.
Thane Collector Ashok Shingare at the hospital
“For the first six hours since he was brought in, he only received painkillers. We could meet him only for five minutes. Even when we were asked to leave, none of the doctors answered our questions. We do not know if he has received the necessary treatment yet,” said a relative of 22-year-old Machindra Gotrane came close to damaging his left eye after sustaining an injury to his forehead and his right femur (thigh bone).
Priyanka Bhatiya, another victim, was on her way to her workplace at the time of the incident. A friend of hers said, “She was facing the door when the two trains were side by side. Somehow, her bag got pulled forward, and her hand got fractured. We reached the hospital as soon as we could, but unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to see her. We kept asking the hospital authorities to let us see her, but in vain.”
Priyanka Bhatiya, a commuter who fractured her right arm during the mishap
Two critical patients, Shiva Gawli, 23, and Anil More, 40, had to be transferred to Jupiter Hospital in Thane, where they are undergoing treatment in the ICU. Meanwhile, the families of other patients in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital ICU, told mid-day that while they were not allowed to see their loved ones, even briefly, politicians, police personnel and VIPs were being allowed in and out freely.
The deceased
Three commuters — Rahul Gupta, 27; Ketan Saroj, 29; and Mayur Parveen Kumar Shah, 44 — were declared dead when brought to Thane Civic Hospital. Constable Vicky Babasaheb Mukhyadal, 34, was declared brought-dead at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital.
Authority Speak
Anirudhha Malegaonkar, Medical superintendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital
“All seven patients admitted to our ICU are currently stable. However, considering the nature of the accident, with victims falling from moving trains onto the tracks, even those who appear stable could deteriorate rapidly. We are closely monitoring them and providing the necessary medical attention.” Malegaonkar also confirmed that 10 patients had been brought in from the accident site. Of these, one person succumbed to injuries, while the other two have been shifted to Jupiter Hospital.”
Dr Rakesh Barot, Dean of the hospital
“All patients are being cared for with utmost attention. We are also in continuous coordination with their families.”
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