Family fights poverty, official apathy

Akash Biswas was playing cricket with his friends when his foot got crushed in a soil testing machine at Mayur Vihar and now doctors say an extra Rs 3 lakh is needed for two more surgeries the minor has to undergo, reports Kapil Datta.

He is only 11 years old and has already undergone a major surgery. It cost his family Rs 2 lakh, which they got after selling two plots.

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Now doctors say an extra Rs 3 lakh is needed for two more surgeries the minor has to undergo.

Akash Biswas was playing cricket with his friends when his foot got crushed in a soil testing machine at Mayur Vihar on July 27.

Akash’s grandfather Sunil Mistri told Hindustan Times, “The ball had fallen near a PWD site below UP Link road in Mayur Vihar Phase I. Engineers were testing soil with a soil testing machine. Due to lack of safety around the site, Akash’s left foot got struck in the machine.”

The grandfather has been running from pillar to post to get compensation for his grandson.

“The doctors have told us that around Rs 3 lakh more would be required for surgeries. For the first surgery we sold two plots for Rs 2 lakh. We are poor people and arranging more money would be very difficult for us,” said Mistri.

The minor is a resident of New Ashok Nagar in Delhi and his father Tinku Biswas is a daily wager.

“After the incident, I went to the PWD office. Officials there told us that a private contractor, Ground Engineering Limited, had undertaken the work. I contacted the contractor’s office in Green Park. One of their staff members came to the hospital in August and promised payment of the bills. Till now we have not received any help,” the grandfather added.

Mistri said they also contacted an inquiry officer to help get compensation money for treatment.

Inquiry Officer Rishi Pal Singh, said, “Negligence on part of the staff of the private contractor was confirmed in initial investigations.”

When asked about compensation, he said he had given the name of the contractor to the family and said the family will have to contact him themselves and seek compensation.

Delhi PWD Minister Rajkumar Chauhan said he would look into the matter.