Vinaya Sawant, a 54-year-old Jogeshwari resident, who was a victim of a railway accident 25 years back became restless when she heard the news of the stampede at Elphinstone Road station. Sawant, who uses a walker now was reminded of her accident on September 28,1992.
Along with her disgruntled family, which now lives in penury was aghast at the prompt compensation offered to the victims by the Central and state government, while the Sawant family continues to fight a legal battle before the consumer forum. Her husband, Vilas Sawant, 61, a retired banker is supporting her in her fight to seek a compensation of Rs 18 lakh, primarily to foot their medical expenses.
Sawant, while speaking to dna said, "On that fateful morning we both were on our way to office. Our three-year and six-month-old daughters were at home. My wife, a public sector telecom employee, and I were on the foot-overbridge at Jogeshwari railway station, when a section of the bridge collapsed. Along with a few other commuters, we fell straight on the railway tracks. Vinaya, suffered a spinal cord injury, which resulted in her limited mobility. Authorities, then rushed us to Cooper hospital, which is around five kilometres from the railway station. The preliminary treatment given to us was not sufficient. Doctors advised us for further specialised treatments. We had no other option but to seek treatment from a private hospital, which has costed us our family savings."
STAGGERED HEARING
- Sawant moved the consumer court in 1993, the forum and the then State Consumer Commission awarded him a compensation of Rs 9 lakh to be paid along with interest by the WR.
- This order of 2006, was challenged in the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum with no outcome yet
