Andheri gas leak leaves victim with mounting hospital bills

A gas pipeline leak in Andheri East has left 22-year-old Arvind Kaithal struggling with severe burns and mounting hospital bills. His friend, Aman Saroj, did not survive the fire caused by the leak, which occurred on March 9. On that Sunday evening, Kaithal and Saroj were returning home after celebrating India's victory in a cricket match. As they rode their bike near Sher-E-Punjab, fire erupted from a gas leak, severely injuring both. Kaithal sustained 55% burns, while Saroj suffered 80% burns and passed away the next morning. Kaithal is currently receiving treatment at the National Burns Centre in Airoli. His family faces financial strain, as medical bills are adding up. His father is a laborer, and his mother is a homemaker. They do not know how they will manage the costs, which reach nearly ₹ 1 lakh daily. Although Tata Trust has helped cover some expenses, there are still substantial medication bills to pay. A few local legislators have visited Kaithal, promising assistance, but the family has only received minimal support. As of now, they have spent around ₹ 66,000 on medicines alone. The Mumbai Fire Brigade responded to the incident at 1:35 PM, classifying it as a minor fire. Three individuals were injured, including an auto driver who later discharged himself after treatment. Kaithal and Saroj were moved to the National Burns Centre for ongoing care. Dr. Sunil Keswani, medical director of the NBC, confirmed that both patients were initially unstable, but Kaithal is now stable and out of intensive care. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the gas leak, which preliminary reports suggest was related to trench digging for a sewage project by a contractor. The contractor has been arrested as authorities look into whether proper permits were obtained.