Dead sister ‘returns’ as daughter on same birthday

MUMBAI: Ashish Naik has named his five-year-old daughter after his elder sister, Nandini, who was among 187 people killed in the July 2006 Mumbai train blasts, as they share the same birthday (April 25). Nandini, who was 27 and was working with ICICI Bank, was returning home in the evening when the blast occurred at Borivli station.
“We got compensation from the government and bank, but Nandini’s loss will always be there,” said Ashish.
There were seven blasts in 11 minutes between 6.24pm and 6.35pm. TOI contacted several victims who were severely hurt in the blasts, but many declined to comment as they said that only they know what they have been through in the last eight years. “Politicians and the media only remember us once in a year, on July 11. We are quite unhappy about this,’’ stated the family member of a grievously injured victim.
MP Kirit Somaiya told TOI, “I had met many victims and their families to ensure that they get compensation from the government and the railways. But those injured have only been compensated for primary medical treatment and operations, and not for surgeries over the years.’’
Somaiya said Allwyn D’Cunha of Vasai had to pay for the successive surgeries for injuries on his right thumb and index finger, amounting to over Rs 5 lakh so far. “Over 30 grievously hurt people should also be compensated for successive surgeries,” he said.