Thursday’s inferno at Mantralaya killed five and injured 16 people. While some were lucky to have escaped with minor injuries, two persons are battling for their lives in the critical care unit of the state-run JJ Hospital.
Hemant Khaire, 45, assistant director of public relations, who was stuck on the sixth floor for an hour has suffered internal burn injuries to the lungs. “A tracheostomy procedure was performed to increase the supply of oxygen. His eyes have been burnt severely and we are watching his condition for the next 72 hours to analyse levels of toxicity in his lungs,” said Dr TP Lahane, dean of JJ hospital.
Fifty-six-year-old KN Jahangirdar, who was recuperating at St George Hospital on Thursday, was rushed to JJ hospital’s CCU on Friday and put on ventilator support. Jahangirdar is a personal assistant to NCP leader Gulabrao Deokar.
“We are observing his condition. He has suffered 10% burns and suffocation to lungs. Both patients are critical,” said Dr Lahane.
The patients admitted in wards have sustained superficial burns (10% to 15%), suffered from suffocation and fractures to the legs as they jumped out of the sixth-floor windows.
The bodies of Mohan More, an employee of Mantralaya, and Tukaram More, a former Mantralaya employee, were brought to the state-run JJ hospital on Friday afternoon.
“The bodies have been reduced to ashes. All that was brought in were powdered bones in a plastic bag. A key to the VVIP chamber to which only the trusted security guards have access was found on Mohan. We identified them by the belongings that we found on them including a chain and a watch,” said Dr TP Lahane, dean of JJ hospital. “The remains along with the relatives’ DNA samples have been sent to forensic lab in Kalina.”
Umesh Potekar (38), a businessman from Baramati was waiting to meet the deputy CM Ajit Pawar over admission for a friend’s daughter when the fire broke out. “He phoned us, crying for help and he said he might die of suffocation if he was not rescued soon,” said Umesh’s brother Manoj.
Mahesh Ghugale, 44, another businessman from Baramati, who was with Potekar too died.
Shivaji Korde, 42, an NCP worker from Akola died of suffocation in DCM’s ante chamber. “We were desperately trying to call Shivaji but the phone was switched off. When the CM announced on Thursday that everyone was safe, we heaved a sigh of relief. Little did we know that Shivaji was no more,” said Shivaji’s brother-in-law Sanjay Pote.
