MUMBAI: A fortnight after a 26-year-old govinda sustained a spinal fracture during dahi handi celebration on August 24, he succumbed to his injuries at Sion hospital on Saturday. Dakshak Kelaskar's death-the first fatality in at least two years-has put the glare back on participation in such festivity sans adequate safety measures.
Dakshak's parents were inconsolable as doctors broke the news to them on Saturday morning. A fracture of the C5 vertebrae and injuries to the spinal cord had rendered Dakshak quadriplegic. Though he was immobile through his hospital stay, the fact that he was conscious and muttering occasionally had given the parents hope. "We didn't imagine we'd be taking his body home," said his father Laxman.
The Thane-based family had previously told TOI that Dakshak didn't have insurance though he had been participating in dahi handi since he was a teenager as a member of Dharmaveer Govinda Pathak. Following a bike accident three years ago, Dakshak couldn't climb on the higher tiers of the human pyramid but would stay on the base level to provide a safety ring. On August 24, he had sustained the injury when the pyramid crashed and the govindas fell on him.
"The damage to his spinal cord was irreversible. The nature of his injury suggested that when the pyramid crashed, he must have ducked pushing the impact of the pyramid's fall on his neck and spinal cord. His blood pressure and pulse stabilised only for a few days before deteriorating again," said Dr Arvind Goregaonkar, head of orthopaedics, Sion hospital. He said his condition was never stable enough to attempt a surgery or even an MRI. Towards the end, he was put on a ventilator. Dakshak, who worked at a mall, was one of the family's main breadwinners.
Arun Patil of Dahi Handi Samanvay Samiti said, "Mandals can provide Rs 10 lakh cover to a govinda for premium as nominal as Rs 75, yet we see such unfortunate incidents. We tell them it's okay to provide one less pair of shorts or t-shirts but not to compromise on insurance." This dahi handi, another 41-year-old suffered injury to the spinal cord and suffered from paraplegia.
Dakshak's parents were inconsolable as doctors broke the news to them on Saturday morning. A fracture of the C5 vertebrae and injuries to the spinal cord had rendered Dakshak quadriplegic. Though he was immobile through his hospital stay, the fact that he was conscious and muttering occasionally had given the parents hope. "We didn't imagine we'd be taking his body home," said his father Laxman.
The Thane-based family had previously told TOI that Dakshak didn't have insurance though he had been participating in dahi handi since he was a teenager as a member of Dharmaveer Govinda Pathak. Following a bike accident three years ago, Dakshak couldn't climb on the higher tiers of the human pyramid but would stay on the base level to provide a safety ring. On August 24, he had sustained the injury when the pyramid crashed and the govindas fell on him.
"The damage to his spinal cord was irreversible. The nature of his injury suggested that when the pyramid crashed, he must have ducked pushing the impact of the pyramid's fall on his neck and spinal cord. His blood pressure and pulse stabilised only for a few days before deteriorating again," said Dr Arvind Goregaonkar, head of orthopaedics, Sion hospital. He said his condition was never stable enough to attempt a surgery or even an MRI. Towards the end, he was put on a ventilator. Dakshak, who worked at a mall, was one of the family's main breadwinners.
Arun Patil of Dahi Handi Samanvay Samiti said, "Mandals can provide Rs 10 lakh cover to a govinda for premium as nominal as Rs 75, yet we see such unfortunate incidents. We tell them it's okay to provide one less pair of shorts or t-shirts but not to compromise on insurance." This dahi handi, another 41-year-old suffered injury to the spinal cord and suffered from paraplegia.
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