These past two days have been emotionally and physically draining for 16-year-old Monica More, who lost both her forearms after falling from a train. Lying on a bed at the BMC-run KEM Hospital, Monica is so distraught that she is barely able to speak. Yet, she puts up a slight smile that conveys she is doing fine.
A student of ST Mehta Junior College at SNDT Womens’ University in Ghatkopar (W), Monica is a dancer. “She is very fond of dancing. She has participated in numerous dance events in school and at social functions,” said Suchitra Shikre, Monica’s cousin.
The shock of losing her forearms has yet to sink in for Monica. “She is highly depressed. And why wouldn’t she be? She breaks down every now and then and she keeps thinking whether she’ll be able to dance again. Also, every year she would prepare to bring in Ganesh Chaturthi and would always be excited to perform aarti. She now wonders, what she will do without her hands,” said Shirke. “And she had the most beautiful handwriting. She is heartbroken that she will not be able to write any time soon.”
On Sunday, the orthopaedic and plastic surgeons at the KEM Hospital surgically re-amputated her already severed and crushed forearms. “She had multiple fractures. Re-attaching her severed forearms was not possible due to a delay in surgery. Her wounds were first cleaned and after surgical amputation of both her forearms, a skin tissue flap was taken from the thigh and was grafted onto the wound site,” said Dr Hiren Patel, resident doctor, orthopaedic surgery.
Doctors said that Monica was running high fever since the past two days and was under observation. “The week after the amputation is immensely crucial for a patient. She is currently on antibiotics and intravenous fluids,” said Dr Patel.
“We have demanded that Monica be provided a job in the railways and also an adequate compensation for her treatment,” said Vishwas Jadhav, Monica’s uncle.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, visited Monica on Monday. He assured that they will facilitate the entire procedure that is the fitting of prosthetic limbs, the cost, which will run into Rs10-15 lakh. “A complaint has been filed with the Railways Claims Tribunal for demanding a compensation.”
Also, an explanation has been demanded from railway authorities as to why the three feet deep pit in which Monica fell has been left as it is since years. “The pit is adjoining to the platform No. 2 from where CST bound trains ply. Monica slipped from the train and fell into the pit. Had the pit been sealed, she would have fallen on the platform and would have escaped with minor wounds,” said Jadhav.
“Also the gap between the platform and train is close to 12 inches in Ghatkopar. The incident has occurred due to clear a cut criminal negligence of the railway authorities.”
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