‘Delay in medical aid led to teen’s death’
Central Railway puts blame on the electrical department for mishap.
A Kasara-bound local train from CST derailed on March 20, 2014, leading to the death of 18-yr-old HSC student Dhaval Lodaya and injuring 12 others.A year after the Kasara-bound local train from CST derailed between Titwala and Ambivali stations on March 20, 2014, leading to the death of 18-year-old HSC student Dhaval Lodaya and injuring 12 other passengers, the final report prepared by the Central Railway (CR) says that delay in giving medical aid led to his death.
The report, accessed by Newsline, says, “The accident relief van should be kept at some other location apart from Kalyan… After it was realised, it took very long to give first aid to the accident victims at Titwala, which also led to the death of Dhaval Lodaya.”
It puts the blame on the railway’s electrical department and admits “it took very long to give first aid to the accident victims”.
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According to the final report, “responsibility has been fixed on the electrical department of Central Railway.In the inquiry, the Shafu coupler was found to be damaged. Commissioner of Railway Safety has recommended to the Central Railway not to use overage coaches. They should conduct periodic overhauling regularly.”
The preliminary report was prepared by Chetan Bakshi, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Central Railway zone) last year. The final report was prepared later.
Five coaches of the Kasara-bound local had derailed at 2.50 pm. The first ambulance arrived after 45 minutes in which Dhaval was not taken. By the time the second ambulance took him to the hospital, two crucial hours were wasted, experts had then said. He was declared dead on arrival.
The injured passengers were admitted in three hospitals across the city – Rukmani Bai in Kalyan, Fortis in Mulund and the civic-run Sion Hospital. A doctor from Rukmani Bai Hospital also claimed that had Dhaval been given medical aid earlier, his life could have been saved. According to the post-mortem report, he succumbed to head injuries.
“We waited for an hour for medical aid. People clicked our pictures but nobody helped. Dhaval could have been saved.” said Mandeep Rajgor, Dhaval’s friend.
Meanwhile, for the last one year since the incident, Dhaval’s family has made monthly visits to Central Railway authorities, and also filed a Right to Information (RTI) application in July, 2014, to figure out how their son died.
Till date, however, the family, who have alleged negligence on part of railway authorities for the accident, has neither received the railway inquiry report nor any monetary compensation from the Central Railway.
“We filed an RTI for the preliminary report in July last year. A month later, we were asked to pay Rs 34 for the copy. We paid the amount, but till now we have not received the report. My father has visited all possible officers in railway for help,” said Nidhi Lodaya, Dhaval’s sister.
Dhaval had boarded the train from Asangaon at 2.09 pm with his friends Karan Gajjar (18), Mandeep (18) and Jay Lodaria (20) after paying a visit to the Manas temple in Asangaon. The four friends had decided to visit the temple a day after their board exams got over.
Narendra Patil, chief PRO at Central Railway, said, “The final report is supposed to be submitted to the concerned division, which will take action against faulty department. I will have to check the progress in this case.”
S K Sood, general manager of CR, could not be reached for comment.
mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
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