Toll up to 19; teen performs dad's last rites
When Pronoti Das heard that her husband Baburam, was no more, she fainted. When she regained consciousness, she had a bout of fits. Her son Abhishek, 14, performed the last rites for his father.
When Pronoti Das heard that her husband Baburam, was no more, she fainted. When she regained consciousness, she had a bout of fits. Her son Abhishek, 14, performed the last rites for his father.
The 19th person to die in the blasts, Baburam Das, 42, succumbed to his injuries at Saifee Hospital on Saturday.
"We spent hours preparing Abhishek for the cremation ceremony. I hope nobody has to go through such a situation," said Aarti Mandal, Das's sister-in-law.
Having lost a leg in the explosion at Opera House, Das was critical. "He was bleeding profusely and was instantly put on the ventilator," said Dr SJ Bapai, assistant director of public relations at Saifee Hospital. "In two days, we gave him five bottles of blood. But despite our best efforts, we could not save him." Das was the first victim whom Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met during his visit to the city on Thursday.
The family is now worried about Abhishek's future. "He had barely begun preparing for his SSC exams. How will he focus on his studies?" Mandal added. Das worked at a jewellery shop in Zaveri Bazaar and was the sole breadwinner for the family.