Pothole blamed for 23-year's-old death

After battling for life for 29 days, 23-year-old Mallika Kapoor breathed her last yesterday. Mallika had met with an accident a month ago, while trying to evade potholes near Hub Mall in Goregaon (East).

The accident took place on September 17 when Mallika, an MBA graduate and the sole breadwinner of her family, was riding pillion with her friend Pritam Pal. They were on their way to Oberoi Mall in Goregaon when a truck hit them from behind, causing them to fall. While Pritam escaped with minor injuries, the truck ran over Mallika's legs leaving her gravely injured.

Pothole claims another life: Mallika Kapoor (above) was the sole breadwinner of her family. Her mother has asked the BMC for compensation, as she blames the authorities for the potholes on the Western Express Highway at Goregaon for her daughter's death.

Locals rushed her to a nearby government hospital, but owing to the lack of a ventilator, she had to be rushed to Kokilaben Hospital in Andheri. However, a lot of damage had already been caused owing to loss of blood and ever since then, she was placed on the ventilator. Her family spent all their savings in an attempt to save her life, and had also sought help from friends and NGOs to continue with the treatment, but she succumbed to her injuries yesterday.

At the time of going to print, her body was taken to the Cooper Hospital for post-mortem, said Pragati Sharma, a close friend of the deceased. "We will take the body home from here for the final procession, which will take place tomorrow morning," she added.

Mallika's mother Madhu blames the potholes on the road for the accident and had asked the BMC for compensation.

Meanwhile, when MiD DAY approached the authorities, R Biradar, assistant municipal commissioner of P/south ward, under whose jurisdiction this road falls, he said, "No such case was reported to our office or I am not aware of it. But the road needs to be repaired and will be done in a month's time."

Despite repeated attempts to contact Dr Ram Narain, director of Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani Hospital, he remained unavailable for comment.

The incident
>> Mallika Kapoor had met with an accident on September 17 while trying to evade potholes near Hub Mall in Goregaon (East).
>> She was riding pillion with her friend, when a truck hit them from behind. The truck ran over Mallika's legs leaving her gravely injured.
>> She was rushed to a nearby government hospital, but owing to the lack of a ventilator, she had to be rushed to Kokilaben Hospital in Andheri. u00a0