Disaster on thursday

DISASTER ON THURSDAY near Cottongreen station

Dear friends
On Thursday night at 6.48 pm I met with an accident near cottongreen station. There was a gutter covered with grill of thick metal rods (the rods which generally used to make railway tracks). The distance between 2 rods was enough for the leg to go inside. YES ... my right leg was inside the gutter in a fraction of seconds ... my knee stuck inside the grid due to impact of my weight. I called for help and as expected Mumbaikars ran to help me. But because my knee was stuck they couldn't pull me out from the grid. Then they called  fire brigade people and actual efforts started to rescue me.  

Yes not to mention 2 ladies... helped me a lot one of them called my husband the second one gave me water washed my face. They were relaxing me. My husband Sachin was thinking what to do while rushing to the spot...he was wondering about what actions to take immediately... but when he saw the crowd, fire brigade, police, ambulance from far away it was then that he realized the degree of seriousness. One lady was there throughout the rescue operation. Many people gathered to see what had happened but Mumbai police able to push away most of the crowd to allow me some fresh air. They first tried to pull me out but that didn't help. Then someone from the crowd suggested to pour some oil that might help. And 2 bottles of oil was poured, a millimeter of my leg did come out but it was swollen more than earlier... rods were suppressing my blood vessels and my leg was losing sensation. I could feel cuts on my leg. Someone from the crowd gave me juice to drink. Each one of them were adding to the hope. Then one guy with metal cutter machine came running suggesting he can help... he tried to cut the rod. The sparks from machine was heating the metal and my stuck leg. My cuts were exposed and could feel the heat.
Fire brigade personnel were pouring water on me to avoid burns. Sachin was holding me so that I shouldn't faint that might have crushed my knee right there. The cutter couldn't cut more to rescue. Mean while 2 gas cutter guys came ( its like gas burner which heats the metal to cut) seeing that thing was threatening if that guy by mistakenly would have moved that gas burner towards my leg imagine it would have been melted like metal. There was too much pressure on him, everyone was suggesting him what to do but he was such a nice guy; he was consoling me ... "madam bilkul tension mat lo... kuch nahi hoga... bharosa rakho.... sab thik ho jae ga... " each time he was cutting the metal rod was heating up and I could see the fumes and I could feel that I'm getting burns... I was yelling; my husband sachin was stopping the guy in between ... fire brigade people were putting continuous water. But as metal was cooling down it was much harder to cut. It was 2 hrs I was stuck.

My patience was going. No no... stop stop... its burning.... put water... it was going on. The water pressure was so high that it was hurting my wounds. That cutterman was requesting me "mam 15 mins sehen karo... aap bahar nikal jaenge pls..." according to him metal was immediately cooling down because of water force and he was not able to cut it as quick as possible. I listened... jo hoga wo ho ga. I thought I might get 3rd degree burns but no he did his job beautifully. Now the space was created to expand the bars. They 1st put one spreading gear... it didn't help. I told apply pressure closer to my leg but that was too risky as it was a joint and if by mistakenly it sleeps from its position... the pressure would have been enough to crush my knee. It didn't help any way. I told I want little more space to come out then they applied 2 spreading gears' pressure near my knee.

This time the risk was twice.

I told Sachin and another fire brigade officer to pull me as soon as it gets expanded because I didn't have strength to pull myself out. Yes there was big sound of Ganapati bappa Morya... I was out after 2.30 hrs .... I could hear few claps. Ambulance and doctor was waiting for me. He examined me and I was moved to KEM. Another bad part of the story. No ward boy.. no assistance was offer to pull the stature. Sachin was mentally and physically tired in the rescue process.. and on top of it he was pulling that wheel-less stature to and fro to old building & new building. No one was helping. After some time doctors attended me. Did plaster. But we were waiting in a corridor on stature for so long. I don't blame the doctors they did the best they could have at that time. I trust KEM doctors but not the facilities they have. They are overburden by too many and critical patients. Poor work place. In those resources they are doing the best.

But then we asked ourselves do we deserve it after going through the hell, mental trauma and such a disaster without being our fault. We need relief and peace so we thought of moving to the private hospital. I didn't want my husband to drag that wheel-less stature from this ward to another.. I could feel he was struggling to give his wife the best treatment... the relief. We told our decision to move to the private hospital. They took our sign on consent form saying it was our discussion to move.  They were not giving us reports of primary examinations, line of action, xrays... saying that it was BMC disaster case and if we shift to another hospital its our own risk and they can't give the reports as they need to file it. Ohhh! forgot to tell you I work in the same building of KEM 13th floor ICMR NIIH Centre as central government employee. 

We waited almost an hour after we decided to move to a private hospital. My friend and Sachin fought for papers. After repeatedly telling that we are staff they agreed and allow us to take photographs of case papers and xrays. It was 11.30 by the time we left for Fortis Vashi where I stay. I knew, my treatment was delayed for almost 2 hrs after rescue. When I reached fortis it was 1.30. Thanks to my friend Dr. Khushnooma and Dr. Sanyal who works for fortis have called fortis before we reach. They started the treatment. They couldn't see degree of cuts on my leg as it was in plaster. Previous doctors didn't give me photos of cuts. But luckily they didn't cut the plaster at that moment. They took xray & gave me antibiotics, pain killers, which I was badly needed for so long and of course tetanus injection. By the time we were settle in the ward it was 3. We were hungry. Sachin and I ate sandwich. Couldn't sleep whole night. I got discharge on next day. No fractures. Swelling, bruises, cuts were dressed properly.

Suggested bed rest and MRI after 8 days to check any injury to ligaments. While resting and explaining the whole incident to almost 10 doctors, nurses and endlessly to the friends and relatives; I thought why not write it down.

Dispointed on BMC after being second case of disaster at same place BMC has learnt nothing. That place is still the same without any cover on it. People have manage to keep stone on it but I don't know how much that will help. I am greatly thankful to all Mumbaikars gathered there helped me some way or the other. The lady who was there till the end (I don't know your name sweetie).. police & ambulance who relived me. And of course two rod cutters and fire brigade people ...hats off to them . They have nice rescue team with good heart I could feel the care. They were constantly talking to me. With gods grace and because of all your good wishes I'm out of danger. Thank you all.