After losing his wife and six others to a gas leakage fire, Mitul Gandhi has appealed to the government and the BMC to establish a dedicated burns centre in Mumbai. Gandhi, whose wife Shivani, 53, suffered fatal burns.
The incident claimed the lives of Shivani Gandhi, 53, Nitu Gupta, 31, Janaki Gupta, 39, Durgavati Gupta, 25, and Poonam Putni (Gupta), 30, all of whom had sustained 80–90 per cent burns. Only one victim, Manaram Kumavat, 55, with 40 per cent burns, survived and is currently stable at Airoli Burns Centre.
Janaki Gupta and Manaram, 55, is stable
Speaking to mid-day, Gandhi recounted, “The incident happened on September 23, when I was in Gujarat for darshan. My wife and her six employees were badly injured after a fire broke out due to a gas leak. I immediately took responsibility for all their treatment and stayed at Airoli Burns Centre, hoping they would recover and return home. But all six, including Raksha Joshi, who was admitted at Kasturba Hospital, died.”
Gandhi said he has spent nearly Rs 25 lakh on the treatment of the victims. “Doctors told me survival chances were low, but even the slightest hope was enough for me to try everything. I did my best to save them,” he said.
Raksha Joshi, Poonam Putni, Nitu Gupta and Durgavati Gupta
Praising his wife’s efforts, he added, “Shivani worked tirelessly to build her catering business, helping and employing multiple women along the way. But I lost her to this tragedy. Mumbai urgently needs a dedicated burns hospital. Apart from Kasturba Hospital, no facility in the city specialises in treating burn victims. Fire incidents happen frequently — BMC must step up to help.” On Tuesday, Janaki Gupta, 39, and Durgavati Gupta, 25, both admitted to Airoli Burns Centre, succumbed to their injuries.
