Nothing can compensate the pain we went through, says Kamala Mills fire survivor

Even after one year of the Kamala Mills fire incident, 47-year-old Kedar Gantha needs the help of hospital's ward boy to bath him. Gantha, who suffered 26 per cent burn injuries on both his hands and shoulder, has rarely stepped out of his home. He had to take a break from his professional work, he had to spend his savings to meet the daily expenditure needs of his family and medical treatment. "The only time I step out of my home, is when I have an appointment with the doctor at the hospital," said Gantha.

While for six months, he was on bed rest, according to him, the doctors have told him that he requires more three to four months to recover completely. Kedar, said, ''My life has changed drastically. It is no more as same as it was a year ago. I don't go out for dinners. Every day I do my physiotherapy for hand movement. When I step out from my house, I have to wear a pressure garment to stabilize my body movement. At least three to four times a day I have to practice my physiotherapy."

While the government has given him a compensation of Rs 50,000, his total expenditure has reached more than fifty lakh rupees. "Nothing can compensate the pain we went through. Those businesses are back to normal. There is no value to human life," said Ganthan. Dr Ashish Ghuge, a plastic surgeon at Bhatia Hospital, said, "After the incident, he underwent a skin grafting surgery. He does not need any further surgery. Routine physiotherapy is helping him to recover well." Gantha added, "The doctors came to my home for dressing up my wound so that I don't get an infection. I am very thankful to the hospital to improve my health."

Gantha had gone to Kamala Mills along with his wife, two friends, and his three-year-old daughter. "My wife suffered six to seven per cent burn injury and one of my friend from Indore suffered 21 per cent burn."