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"I was returning from Palwal in Haryana. I was about to board the bus from Punjabi Bagh in New Delhi. While boarding, I had placed just one foot on the bus, and before I could climb, the driver moved the bus forward. I fell. My foot came under the wheels of the bus."Chandni, a bus accident survivor
"It's been over 11 months since I have been lying in bed," Chandni told me when I met her at her house in Delhi's Sultanpuri.
A beautician by profession, Chandni met with an accident on 7 January 2023, and since then, her life has changed completely.
When the accident happened, she was with her mother. Passersby helped them book the ambulance. Chandni was taken to Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Punjabi Bagh, where she was kept in the ICU for a month before getting discharged in February 2023.
While getting discharged, the hospital wrote in the discharge summary, "The patient is being discharged under stable condition. To review in OPD for dressing."
As per the family, they kept visiting the hospital for the dressings for a few weeks, but Chandni's medical condition never improved.
While speaking to me about the incident, Phoolwati, Chandni’s mother, had tears in her eyes, " For us, seeing this condition of my daughter, it's like dying every day. The driver who crushed my daughter's foot is leading an everyday life, but our lives have been changed completely."
When Chandni was discharged from Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, a bill of around Rs 8.5 lakh was paid by the Delhi Government under the 'Farishte Dilli Ke' scheme. The treatment, post-discharge, cost around Rs 2 lakh, which was paid by the family.
I went to Maharaja Agrasen Hospital to follow up on the case. At the hospital, we were told to send an e-mail regarding our queries and the concerned team would respond to my mail. As told, I sent an email on 1 December 2023.
After a few days, I received a response stating that the 'patient's information is confidential' and that a letter of consent is needed from the patient for the hospital to provide any information.
Chandni shared the consent letter with me, which I attached to the email and forwarded to the hospital.
'From Maharaja Agrasen Hospital To AIIMS, Delhi'
Unable to afford the treatment at the private hospital, Chandni moved to Loknayak Hospital and from there, she was referred to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Delhi.
Since August 2023, she's been getting her treatment at AIIMS.
On 11 December 2023, I met her doctor at AIIMS. He told me the injury was so severe that he wasn't sure if Chandni could walk again. As per the doctor, if everything goes well, it will take three surgeries before she can stand on her feet.
I also went to Punjabi Bagh Police Station to speak to the case's investigating officer. He told me the driver was arrested and later released on bail. The police have filed a chargesheet, which will be heard at Tees Hazari Court.
Advocate Shyam Mohan, currently representing Chandni’s case, said, " There have been two cases pending at the Tees Hazari Court. One for rash and negligent driving under IPC Section 279/338 and another for the compensation for the grave injury."
As per the advocate, both the cases are at their initial stage. The criminal case for rash and negligent driving may take time before a final judgement is made, and the case for compensation claim may be decided within a year, subject to completion of treatment.
'My Dreams Are Crushed Under The Wheels of The Bus'
Recalling her plans before the accident, Chandni told me, "I had passed my class 12 exams and was working at a beauty parlour. I wanted to open my beauty parlour, but that’s been halted. Now, I am bedridden."
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