Kokila Nadia, a domestic help residing in Khokhra, is still awaiting the day when her husband will return home. She and her two children will have endured a third year of waiting on Tuesday, which marks the third anniversary since Kanu Nadia went missing after the serial blasts in the city on July 26, 2008.
On that eventful day, 36-year-old labourer Kanu left home to meet his wife and seven-year-old daughter at the Civil Hospital but never came back.
Kokila, her family members and local social workers left no stone unturned to make representations to the police, district collector and other forums but to no avail, as she is yet to meet her husband or receive any compensation in this regard. She firmly believes that Kanu lost his life in the trauma ward blast of the Civil Hospital.
"Payal (her daughter) was suffering from pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital a week prior to the blasts. I used to take care of her during the day while my husband took my place during the night," said Kokila, who still grieves the death of her husband.
"He left home with food for us at six in the evening and since then, we (the family) haven't heard of him. I have strong apprehensions that he lost his life in the trauma ward blast," she added.
On that fateful day Kokila kept waiting for her husband till 11 at night. The neighbours later told her that Kanu had left home for the hospital in the evening. She had registered a missing complaint with the Amraiwadi Police the next day.
Kanu was a poor man who sold the iron roof of his hut to fund medicines for his daughter. Social workers in the area had come to his aid and constructed a home for him.
"We made representations to all forums but nobody paid attention to her plight. She didn't even get compensation," said Harshad Patel, a social worker in the area.
"The family's condition was so poor that we built a house for them. She is now feeding her family by working as a domestic help in households and catering services," added Patel.
