Kalbadevi fire officer's surgery postponed

Mumbai fire brigade's chief officer, Sunil Nesarikar, who was admitted at National Burns Centre (NBC) in Airoli after sustaining injuries in the Kalbadevi inferno, was supposed to undergo surgery on Monday; that has been postponed because he is suffering from a high fever. Doctors at the hospital say that they will first need to stabilise the patient's temperature, which will take about four days.

Nesarikar sustained 50% burn injuries in the Kalbadevi fire, and has already had one surgery at NBC.

On April 25, Nesarikar, who was supervising the firefighting, was stuck under the debris for 15 mins after the building collapsed. He was rushed to NBC, where he underwent decompression for the compartment syndrome, in which doctors successfully restore the blood supply, on Sunday.

NBC director Dr Sunil Keswani, who is treating Nesarikar, said that the doctors have planned for one more skin grafting surgery. "He is running a fever, so we decided that only after his condition stabilises, we will perform surgery," he said.

For that, Dr Keswani said, the doctors would need at least four days. "We are planning surgery on both hands; there is no need for any surgery on his face, those are only superficial wounds which will heal," the doctor added.

Deputy fire officer SG Amin, who was also injured in the fire, recently died. In total, three fire brigade officers lost their lives in the blaze at Kalbadevi.