Patients recuperate in hospitals, Khaire critical

Hemant Khaire, 45, who suffered burn injuries in his trachea and lungs during the fire at Mantralaya, continued to remain critical at JJ Hospital's critical care unit on Sunday.

Hemant Khaire, 45, who suffered burn injuries in his trachea and lungs during the fire at Mantralaya, continued to remain critical at JJ Hospital's critical care unit on Sunday.

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The deputy liaison officer with the state's public relations department was trapped in the conference room on the sixth floor when fire engulfed Mantralaya on Thursday.

"Khaire's lungs are severely affected due to smoke inhalation. He will take another two or three days to get off the ventilator," said Dr TP Lahane, dean of JJ Hospital.

KN Jehangir, another Mantralaya staffer who suffered 10% burns on his right hand, is recuperating at JJ Hospital after he was shifted there from St George Hospital on Friday.

Of the 16 people injured in the fire, seven are recuperating at JJ, GT and St George hospitals. Four policemen, who complained of breathlessness due to smoke inhalation while evacuating people on the sixth floor of Mantralaya, are still being treated in the intensive care unit of GT Hospital.

"We have kept them under observation. If their reports are normal, they will be discharged on Monday," said Dr Jeetendra Sankpal, acting medical superintendent, GT Hospital.

He was waiting outside the fourth floor office of school education minister Rajendra Darda when the fire broke out.

"His burns will require time to heal," said Dr DR Kulkarni, medical superintendent, St George Hospital.