Navi Mumbai: Nine days after a speeding SUV driven by 22-year-old Arafat Patel went out of control in Taloja Phase-I, killing a scooty rider and injuring five others, the death toll has risen to two. A vada pav stall owner who suffered severe burn injuries in the July 7 crash succumbed to his injuries at the National Burns Centre in Airoli on July 15.The hawker sustained critical burns when a vessel of hot oil used for frying vadas toppled onto him after the SUV, which had already rammed into a tempo, an autorickshaw and two pedestrians, crashed into his roadside stall around 12.15 pm.The deceased vada pav stall hawker has been identified as Ramdulare Gupta (32), while the scooty rider who was killed on the spot on July 7, was identified as Nadeem Khan, 32, both residents of Taloja Phase-1. Khan was declared brought dead at MGM Hospital, Kamothe.Dr Sunil Keswani, medical director of National Burns Centre, Airoli said, “The patient Ramdulare Gupta had sustained burns on July 7, and after being treated at other hospital, he was admitted here after five days in a critical condition on July 11. He had sustained 55% burns on total body surface, including head, face, neck, anterior and posterior trunk, both upper limbs and entire right leg. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his grievous burn injuries on July 15.Sagar Nikam, police inspector (crime) of Taloja said, “Gupta was initially admitted at MGM hospital, Kamothe. After 5 days of treatment, his kin decided to shift him to a private multi-speciality hospital, where the treatment cost was estimated around Rs 20 lakh. Unable to afford the medical expenses, Gupta’s family admitted him at National Burns Centre, Airoli, where he succumbed to his critical burn injuries on July 15.The accused SUV driver Arafat Patel, a resident of Taloja village, who is pursuing BBA course, had fled from the accident spot. He was arrested within 12 hours from his developer father’s office in Kharghar. After being remanded to police custody till July 10, he was released on bail by the Panvel court.” — George Mendonca
Attachment
