We need a job,” pleads Anil More’s family from Siddharth Nagar, Shahapur, their voices heavy with the weight of unspoken pain and overwhelming loss. June 9 shattered their world.
Anil More, the sole breadwinner of the family, fought for his life for ten agonising days after the tragic Mumbra train accident. But despite his brave battle, he passed away, leaving behind a family lost in grief and financial uncertainty.
Ashish, 25, his son, and his younger sister are post-graduates, but unemployed. Their father’s death has plunged them into a deep crisis. “Railways hasn’t compensated us,” said Ashish, his voice trembling.
“They blamed the victims at first, but now an FIR has been filed against railway officials by the Thane GRP. It’s clear the passengers weren’t at fault. We have lost everything. Railways should give us a job and compensate us,” he said.
Shiva Gavali, a survivor of the Mumbra tragedy, with his mother in happier times; (right) The 25-year-old accountant after his right hand was damaged
Anil had worked as a peon at Manisha Vidyalay, a government school, since 1996. He was the pillar of their family of four. Ashish had spent ten days by his father’s side in the hospital, watching him suffer. The hospital care was made even more difficult by Anil’s rare O-negative blood type, forcing the family to reach out to blood donors themselves. “No one helped us,” Ashish said, his eyes filled with pain.
The loss of their father isn’t the only blow. The More family has been crushed by bureaucracy and indifference.
“We haven`t received any compensation. I was shown the hospital bill on laptop, which was over Rs 15 lakh for ten days, but I never got a copy of the bill. The hospital didn’t charge us. We have no idea who cleared the bill. No answers. No help,” said Ashish.
Compensation of Rs 5 lakh to families who lost their loved ones was announced. But the More family has received nothing. “We haven’t seen a penny. It’s not just about the money; it’s about justice for our father. We need the Railways to take responsibility,” he added.
The physical evidence of the accident, the shattered windows, and the dented compartments, remains unaddressed. “We saw the broken train,” Ashish recalled. “But no one was allowed to take any photos. The authorities have ignored us, and we are left with nothing but pain.”
Stolen years
While their family has a personal loan to repay, Ashish and his sister have no income or support. Their savings are running out fast. “My father’s pension is still under process,” Ashish said. “We’re thinking of filing a case with the railway tribunal, but without a station nemo on the date of the accident, it’s impossible.” The emotional loss is coupled with the financial devastation. “He had seven more years before retirement,” Ashish said. “Those years were stolen from us. We were dependent on his income, and now we can barely make ends meet.”
The statutory compensation that the railway tribunal usually gives is up to R8 lakh, but this is a mere pittance for a family ripped apart. “Even if they weren’t at fault,” Ashish said bitterly, “The compensation should be much higher. This is about justice — not just money. We need our father’s life to matter.”
The More family’s grief goes beyond the sudden death of a beloved father. It’s the heartache of being abandoned by the very system that should support them in their darkest hour. “We just want to get back on our feet,” Ashish pleaded, his voice barely a whisper. “But we need help — help that should have been given
to us long ago.”
A dream shattered
Shiva Gavali, 25, a young accountant from Daigar, Shilphata Road, was on his way to his Vikhroli office when the Mumbra accident happened. He was the first graduate in his family, working tirelessly to create a better life for himself. “He was our only hope,” said his cousin Mayur. “Now, his life is shattered.”
Shiva’s hand was severely injured in the accident, and despite several surgeries, it remains irreparably damaged. “The doctors said there’s nothing more they can do,” Mayur said. “He’s still not recovered, and we don’t know how we will pay all the medical bills. We have had to rely on public donations, but it’s not enough. [Deputy Chief Minister] Eknath Shinde had cleared the hospital bill at Jupiter hospital.”
For Shiva’s family, the pain is twofold — physical and financial. “It breaks my heart to see him like this,” Mayur said, tears welling up in his eyes. “He was full of life, and now he can’t even use his hand. We have nothing left — no future, no hope.”
Shiva himself recalled the accident with haunting clarity. “I wasn’t even near the door. A passenger pulled me as he fell,” he said softly. “My right hand, which once worked so hard for us, is now useless. I don’t know what the future holds.”
The Gavalis and Mores are waiting for justice. But in a system that moves with unbearable slowness, it seems a distant dream. “We’ll never get back what we’ve lost,” said Mayur. “But we still need the help we were promised. We just want to survive.”
Rs 5 lakh
Compensation announced for families of deceased
