Dog-lover vagabond gets hospital bed after activist alerts cops

Nagpur: Animal lover Sandesh Patil, who lived on the footpath, got a fresh lease of life after activists alerted cops about his deteriorating health last week. He got help just in time, and was admitted at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH).
Patil, a graduate from Pune in his 40s, has been living as a vagabond near Vaishnodevi Chowk with three dogs, which had attracted the sympathy of animal lovers and activists, who extended assistance to him.
Having left Pune after his parents’ death, Patil is learnt to be the owner of a house at his native place, which was allegedly usurped by someone. Depressed and dejected, Patil had somehow landed up in the city several years back and started staying on the footpath. His life depended on the generosity of passers-by and some Good Samaritans. Amid his poverty, Patil had decided to adopt a puppy initially and then two more. Impressed by his love for the dogs even in his makeshift abode on the footpath, the tricycle-bound Patil started getting food and other materials from other animal lovers in the vicinity.
It’s learnt animal lover Karishma Galani was alerted about Patil by activist Yogesh Purohit and his kin Kajal Purohit. Patil, who lived by begging on the road, was suffering from filaria in his right leg. The Purohit family, which used to help Patil and his puppies with food, had noticed his failing health and approached Galani for help. Galani sought the help of Zonal DCP Lohit Matani, who immediately deputed two policemen to shift Patil to IGGMCH.
Matani said the ambulance driver summoned to shift Patil to hospital had been reluctant until there was a police case registered in the case. “I had to intervene to ensure the ailing man was shifted to hospital, or else he would have died on the road. There are many beggars and vagabonds who die without being attended and assisted, which authorities must not ignore,” he said.
Galani said Patil deserved help as he had adopted three street dogs despite his condition and shared his food with them with love and care. “The DCP is also keen to rehabilitate Patil, who seems to be an educated person,” she said.