While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to take a call on compensation for three-month-old Prince Rajbhar, who lost his arm in the KEM Hospital fire, help has started pouring in for him from Mumbaikars. The baby’s father, Pannelal Rajbhar, said he has received nearly ₹80,000 from various people so far.
“I want to ensure that my child’s future is secure,” said Mr. Rajbhar. He said he received three cheques of ₹25,000 each and cash worth ₹2,500 on Thursday. Mr. Rajbhar, whose job in Delhi is now uncertain as he has been on leave for a long time, said he wants his baby to have a normal life. “The civic administration should take that responsibility,” he said. He visited the BMC head office on Thursday, but could not meet the commissioner.
Mr. Rajbhar said he is pursuing a polytechnic course and his examinations will start from December 7. “We have gone through a lot. But I will make sure that I go for the exams. I enrolled in a distance-learning course for the uplift of myself and my family,” he said.
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Vishal Duraphe, president of the Swayambhu Sitladevi Charitable Trust who is one of the donors, said it is sheer negligence on the part of the hospital authorities that such an incident occurred in the paediatric Intensive Care Unit. “We have requested the authorities for ₹10 lakh compensation,” he said.
Baby Prince was detected with a congenital heart condition due to which his parents decided to bring him to Mumbai for better treatment. On November 7, an ECG cable caught fire, which caused severe burn injuries to the baby, leading to the amputation of his left arm.
Doctors said the baby’s condition is slowly improving but he continues to be on ventilator. He is being fed his mother’s milk with a spoon.
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