Mahad tragedy: Mumbai man returns after five days, wrapped in cloth

The Malap family stood in shock as the body of their loved one was brought from the Mahad accident site to their Vile Parle home for the last rites yesterday.

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Avinash is survived by his wife and two daughters. Pics/Satej Shinde

The deceased, 45-year-old Avinash Malap was on the Jaigad-Mumbai bus, one of the two ST buses that were swept away by the devastating floodwaters of Savitri River on Tuesday night. His body was found in Kemburli village, almost 30 kilometres from the accident spot five days after the horrible tragedy struck.

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Avinash Malap

Avinash was returning from his native place, Khandala, after dropping his mother there. The family of 12 was dependent on Avinash as he was the only one in the family who had a steady job. He worked in the office administration at Raymond in Thane.

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When Avinash did not reach home on Wednesday morning, the family assumed he might have been delayed. However, when they learnt about the bridge collapse, they made frantic calls to his mother asking if Avinash was in the same bus. Once confirmed, his friends and relatives reached the spot. "The family stays in a SRA flat in Kunkuwadi area of Vile Parle," said Pradeep Vedak, former corporator of the area who is close to the Malap family.

Avinash's wife is a homemaker and his two children are studying in Std VI and VIII. His colleagues recall him to be a good-natured and a trusted man.