July 20 Mankhurd BEST Bus Crash Victims Face Severe Financial Crisis

A week after a BEST bus accident in Mankhurd on July 20 left one person dead and ten injured, surviving victims and their families are facing severe financial distress and loss of income while awaiting delayed official compensation. Most of those injured received care at Govandi's civic-run Shatabdi Hospital, where all but two have since been discharged.

Among those severely impacted is 42-year-old Sumangal Maiti, a contractual labourer at HPCL who was returning from a night shift when the crash occurred. His wife, Chinta Ajanta, said Maiti is unable to sit or rest properly without a proper chair or mattress. Maiti's monthly income of ₹30,000 has stopped, while Chinta has been unable to work her ₹14,000-a-month domestic worker job because she is acting as his primary caregiver. The family, already struggling with ₹1.5 lakh in debt from prior medical expenses, is worried about how they will pay their monthly rent of ₹8,000.

Although medical treatment at the hospital is free, additional expenses continue to pile up. Chinta noted that obtaining approval for a free X-ray required written sanction, causing delays and forcing the family to pay ₹70 for one-way rickshaw fares over multiple visits.

Another victim, 23-year-old Sanket Nakti, suffered 10 stitches to his head, seven stitches to his lips, a fractured left knee, and chest injuries after being thrown four seats away in the impact. Nakti was the sole provider for his 60-year-old mother, Savita Nakti, earning ₹16,000 monthly. The family now faces potential homelessness as they struggle to pay their ₹6,000 rent in Shivneri Nagar, Mankhurd. Nakti's sister, Riddhi Kuley, spent ₹300 on a taxi to pick up donated medical equipment, including a wheelchair, a walker, and a urine pot.

Lata Vaghela, a fruit vendor from Chembur Camp and one of the two victims who remain hospitalised, suffered a broken hand and chest pain. Vaghela had borrowed ₹5,000 at 10 percent interest on the morning of the accident to buy inventory, but ended up spending it on hospital expenses. Her son, who sells sarees near Panvel Railway Station, is currently unable to assist her due to ongoing hawker eviction drives.

When contacted, a BEST spokesperson stated that all medical expenses for the victims would be covered and that the administrative process to award official compensation is currently underway.