Mumbai stampede: Relatives of survivors recount stories of grief and relief

Avinash Supe, dean of KEM Hospital, said 32 patients were still in the hospital.

People who escaped Friday’s stampede and their relatives are still coming to terms with what transpired at the foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road station on Friday. Being treated at KEM Hospital in Parel, they recounted their ordeal.

The parents of Akash Parab,18, who fractured his left leg in the mishap, had hidden the news of his 11-year-old brother Rohit’s death from him

For example, the parents of Akash Parab,18, who fractured his left leg in the mishap, had hidden the news of his 11-year-old brother Rohit’s death from him. “We have told him that Rohit is in the other ward. We have lost everything,” said Akash’s father Ankush, who is from Vikhroli.

Mahananda Sawant, 36, who works at a housekeeping firm, was curled up on a bed in the women’s ward. She was stuck in the stampede for twenty minutes. At 11:30 am on Friday, her son Veresh got a call from her mother’s office, asking her whereabouts. “I first went to the station and then to KEM Hospital. It took me two hours to find her here,” said Veresh.

Sawant said her body was compressed by pressure from all sides. “I am feeling breathless and my blood pressure is low. I have been throwing up,” she said.

Avinash Supe, dean of KEM Hospital, said 32 patients were still in the hospital. “Two patients have left the hospital against medical advice, another three were discharged on Friday,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials at the mortuary said that they had conducted post-mortems of all deceased. The families of all but four victims are yet to claim the bodies for the last rites.

‘Despite injury, I went to firm for job interview’

Though Wasim Shaikh lost his chance to be employed by a company, he won his battle against death.

Shaikh, who works as an accountant in Vashi, was on his way to appear for a job interview

Shaikh, who works as an accountant in Vashi, was on his way to appear for a job interview at Indiabulls Finance Centre, near Elphinstone Road station. “People fell in front of me and I fell on someone,” said Shaikh as he rested on his mother’s lap at KEM Hospital. Despite the injury, Shaikh went for his interview but was rejected. “After the interview, I came to KEM hospital as my chest was paining,” he said.

‘Raised hand, shouted for help’

Pramod Bagwe, 52, and his wife, Pradnaya Bagwe, 48, both residents of Elphinstone, were stuck on the stairway of the foot overbridge.

“I raised my hand and shouted for help,” said Pramod.

“My wife and I left together from home. She works at Churchgate and I at Andheri,” said Pramod. As the couple tried moving up in the crowd, he felt a huge thump on his chest.

“I raised my hand and shouted for help,” said Pramod.

He said he lost his wallet, tiffin and bag, but his phone stayed with him.

“As soon as I got up, I started looking for my wife. She too was injured,” he added.