Family stands by infant’s shattered grandfather

“He’s blaming himself,” says Nitin Pathni, describing his father Hasmukh Pathni (62). “He thinks his only grandchild died because of his carelessness. But that’s not true, reports Megha Sood.

“He’s blaming himself,” says Nitin Pathni, describing his father Hasmukh Pathni (62).

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“He thinks his only grandchild died because of his carelessness. But that’s not true. It was an accident,” he continues.

Nitin (32) is describing the death of his brother’s daughter Angy (1), who, on Monday, slipped out of Hasmukh’s hands and fell from an escalator on the first floor to the ground floor.

Her mother had taken Angy, along with Hasmukh, to shop at Goregaon’s Oberoi mall.

Hasmukh was carrying Angy, when he lost his balance and the infant slipped out of his arms and fell to the ground floor.

Angy suffered a fractured skull and severe head injuries, and was declared dead before admission at the nearby Lifeline Hospital. The Dindoshi police registered it as an accidental death. Her mother has not been told about her death yet, as the family fears the news will shatter her as well.

“It’s not that he hasn’t been to malls, or doesn’t know how to climb an escalator, but yesterday he couldn’t set his foot on the escalator due to his age,” Nitin explained, as he prepared to leave for the funeral at their home at Kurar village, Malad (East).

Nitin said the family will get professional help for Hasmukh if he does not come to terms with the incident in time, recollecting that Angy was very attached to her grandfather and was always with him.