Train accident victim’s kin seek help for her bills

On Thursday, Sanjay Dhamdhare’s daughter Sayali, a civil services aspirant, fell off a crowded train at Kalyan station and slipped into the gap between the footboard and the platform, losing both her legs.

Three days later, even as Dhamdhare (45), a Pune-based private schoolteacher, is yet to get over the grief of his daughter’s accident, his inability to pay for her medical bills is giving him sleepless nights.

Sayali has been admitted at Jupiter Hospital at present. Her medical expenses are more than Rs 15 lakh and since her family members can’t afford that amount, they are now requesting anyone who can help them to come forward.

Sayali’s uncle, Santosh Shinde, said, “Due to the serious injuries that she suffered on both her legs, her right leg had to be amputated from above the knee, while her left leg had to be amputated from a little below the knee. There were two surgeries conducted on her legs and the doctors are now saying that her spinal cord has suffered injuries as well. So there will be one more surgery needed for that.”

Mr Shinde added, “Sayali’s father, Sanjay, who is my cousin, is extremely worried and has virtually not slept or eaten due to the tension about paying Sayali’s medical bills.” He said, “We have already paid around Rs 6 lakh, but the doctors have said that around Rs 25 lakh is needed for the entire treatment.”

Mr Shinde further said, “Sanjay is a schoolteacher in a Junnar-based school. He didn’t have a lot of savings and all his friends and relatives contributed their savings to help out. But Rs 25 lakh is too big an amount, and so we have requested everyone to help us pay the hospital bill. Sayali is conscious now and recovering from the injury.”

Sayali had been preparing for her UPSC exams for the last 18 months. She sat for her exam last Sunday and then stayed back at her aunt’s house in Mumbai. On Thursday, she and her cousin sister were boarding the train when she fell off the Indrayani Express.

She was first taken to Rukmini Hospital and later admitted in Jupiter Hospital. Those who wish to help her can contact her uncle, Jalandar Ukirde, at 9967414069 or Santosh Shinde at 9821591620, or send help to her father’s bank account (number: 20204312828).