Matsyagandha: How death toll was kept low

One reason for the death toll in the Matsyagandha Express derailment not going beyond the initial figure of 14 was the collective effort of doctors from various hospitals in the Konkan region and Mumbai to provide timely medical aid to the passengers.

The accident occurred near Mahad in Maharashtra's Raigad district, which has just a small rural hospital. But doctors from neighbouring places like Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Derewan, Nagothane, Alibaug, Thane and even far off Mumbai rushed to the accident site and the rural hospital with ambulances, trained staff and essential medicines.

"Generally, we do not have more than 50 patients in our OPD on any given day. But Wednesday was something different," Medical Superintendent of Mahad Rural Hospital Dr Ajit Gawli told PTI.

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Over 60 persons were injured in the accident. Although the staff managed to administer first aid to the injured, they could not provide the specialised treatment that some needed as a follow up.

Doctors arriving from various nearby towns and Mumbai filled this shortcoming, Gawli said.

How fast and effectively the medical fraternity reacted could be gauged from the fact that of the 14 deaths, most died within minutes of the derailment while none died due to lack of or delayed treatment.

Doctors shifted 54 persons to hospitals in Mumbai, including J J Hospital, KEM, Sion Hospital and Railway Hospital, while four were admitted to a private orthopaedic hospital.

"Such incidents have once again highlighted the need to have special trauma care facility at Mahad, which is located on the busy Mumbai-Goa Highway and close to the Konkan Railway route," said a doctor who had arrived from IPC Limited's hospital in Nagothane.