29 February,2016 02:20 PM IST | | Sadaguru Pandit
Blood and viscera samples of victims sent to Kalina forensic lab for analysis; doctors treating survivor Sobiya Bharmal say she is stable, and survived due to timely treatment
The lone survivor of the Thane family massacre, Sobiya Bharmal, is currently undergoing treatment at the Titan Hospital. Doctors treating Bharmal said she survived due to timely treatment.
Sobiya Bharmal, the lone survivor, is undergoing treatment at the Titan Hospital in Thane. Pic/Datta Kumbhar
Dr Abrar Khan said, "We had to put 25 stitches to stop the bleeding. The patient was brought to the hospital in a semi-conscious state. We had to immediately suture the gash across her throat. Though stable, she is in a state of shock."
Doctors added her voice box is intact and though Bharmal is unable to talk right now, she will be able to record her complete statement soon. Being the lone witness to the massacre, her statement is of utmost importance.
Sedated before slaughter?
Medical experts treating Bharmal as well as those who performed autopsy on the deceased at the Thane and Kalwa Civil Hospitals claimed there was a possibility that the victims were sedated before being butchered.
"Prima facie, Bharmal looked sedated. However, blood loss could be the reason. We have sent her blood samples for testing. Presence of sedatives in the blood will be ascertained only when the reports are out," said a doctor from Titan Hospital.
Seconding this opinion, Dr Kempi Patil, civil surgeon at Thane Civil Hospital, also spoke about the possibility of the victims being administered sedatives or poison. He ascertained deep wounds across throats of the deceased as the cause of death.
He added that blood and viscera samples were sent to the forensic lab in Kalina for analysis.
"We'll be able to ascertain whether the victims were sedated or not, and the kind of drug used for the same, once the reports are out. All the victims had similar deep and straight slits across their throats, which is the primary cause of their deaths. However, reports will ascertain if they were poisoned before being butchered. Even Hasnain's blood and viscera samples were sent to the forensic lab," said Patil.
While all the 15 bodies were initially brought to Thane Civil Hospital, seven were later despatched to Kalwa Civil Hospital so that the autopsies could be conducted at the earliest.
"A team of eight doctors performed autopsies here," Patil said.
