MUMBAI: Vijay Gaikwad (70), a retired Central Railway employee, told his family members that he was stepping out of home to get a photocopy of some documents. These were the last words that he spoke to them. He was hit by the speeding BEST bus at Kurla on Monday night. Gaikwad is survived by his wife Pramila, son Tushar and daughter Darshana, and grandchildren.
His friend Shashikant Samekar said Gaikwad lived an active life and it was not unusual for him to be on a simple walk in the area where he lost his life. Samekar said in the aftermath of the accident, Gaikwad was taken to Bhabha Hospital first and then the family managed to have him admitted at Kohinoor Hospital.
“He couldn’t survive for long and breathed his last,” said Samekar.
Gaikwad, who had recently undergone a knee replacement surgery, resided in Brahmanwadi area in Kurla (West), close to the spot where the incident occurred.
A shopkeeper, who witnessed the incident, said Gaikwad was the first person to be hit by the BEST bus before it rammed into other victims.
According to Gaikwad’s family, he worked as a senior technician in the railways and retired around 10 years ago.
On the day of the incident, he told his family members that he was stepping out and visiting a nearby shop to get a photocopy, the family members said.
But his wife later got a call from his number with the caller not known to her asking her to visit Bhabha Hospital, saying her husband was admitted there. The family members rushed to the hospital and were briefed about what happened.
Gaikwad soon succumbed to his injuries during treatment. tnn & agencies
