NEW DELHI: It has been a series of unfortunate events for 19-year-old Sana Cheryl Felix. She lost her father to cancer in April 2020 and her mother to Covid in May last year and is now apprehensive about losing the toes on her left foot.
The Jesus and Mary College second-year sociology (honours) student was waiting in front of Durgabai Deshmukh metro station last Wednesday around 3.15pm when a roadroller hit a jersey barrier that fell on her leg.
The 150kg road barrier trapped her limb and it took around 20 people to move it. The road roller deployed at the under-construction Benito Juarez Marg underpass was trying to make a U-turn in the cramped space. “The front of the machine hit the jersey barrier which rotated and crashed into my foot. The driver left the road roller on the road and fled,” recalled Sana.
Her friends began screaming for help and some people lifted the concrete jersey barrier to free Sana’s feet. She was taken to a private hospital in south Delhi in an auto. “I was crying in pain at the emergency ward but aside from the nursing staff bandaging my foot, no doctor saw me for over two hours,” she claimed.
She sustained multiple fractures on her right foot joint and the second, third and fourth toes. Though the 19-year-old underwent two surgeries on March 24, she is extremely worried about her condition as her toes have turned blue. “Doctors have expressed uncertainty about my condition. Whether there is improvement or whether they will be amputated will become clear only in a few days,” said Sana. With only the little savings left behind by her parents, it was only friends’ effort in collecting Rs 3.8 lakh though an online fundraiser that helped the young girl meet her medical expenses.
She hasn’t been able to file a police complaint without the MLC report from the hospital, but learnt from the cops that they registered an FIR on Monday. However, she hadn’t received a copy of the FIR till the filing of this story.
Worrying about her offline semester exams due next month, Sana attributed the accident to the “collective criminal negligence of PWD, the contractors, traffic police, and central and state governments”. “The underpass construction has been going on for over five years and many students walk past the site. But there are no safety barricades or any security measures there,” said the student, who has decided to move court to demand action against what she called official negligence. She also wants thearea to be sealed till construction ends to prevent anyone suffering like she did.
Concerned about evidence being tampered with, Sana said, “On March 23, the site had piles of dirt and stones and was strewn with debris. Since then I have learnt they have cleared the debris and boulders and set it up as if nothing had happened there.” Sana said that even after five days the firsthospital hasn’t yet provided the medico-legal case documents and X-ray reports.
Refuting these allegations, the hospital claimed these accusations were false. “She was given the best of the treatment possible at our hospital. All the protocols of acute trauma care were followed in the specified time. Within two minutes, she was attended to by two emergency physicians on duty, and within the next 10 minutes seen by an orthopedician. The plastic surgeon was also consulted,” the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital added that a photo of her left foot was taken in order to consult with the plastic surgeon regarding pressure bandaging, debridement and antiseptic dressing. X-rays were done and reviewed by the orthopedician. “We have placed the correct and true facts for whichall evidence is with us,” the statement said.
