Mumbai: Chemical spill from tanker causes scooterist to lose vision in right eye

KALYAN: In a freak incident, chemical from a tanker splashed on a couple and their two-year-old son riding a scooty on a bumpy road in Kalyan on Sunday. The scooterist, Gauresh Salaskar (33), lost vision in his right eye and sustained burns, while his wife Gauri and son Tanish, who were riding pillion, suffered minor burn injuries.


The police are yet to trace the errant tanker driver. They suspect the overhead lid of the tanker was open causing the chemical to splash out when the heavy vehicle hit a

pothole

or a speed bump. “We have registered a case and are looking for the driver,” said senior inspector Prakash Londe of Mahatma Phule police station. The police are yet to verify the type of chemical the tanker was carrying.

Gauresh, who is employed as a salesman at a diamond company, is undergoing treartment at JJ Hospital. Eye surgeon at JJ Hospital Dr TP Lahane, who is also joint director at Directorate of Medical Education and Research, said: “The victim has sustained grade six burns, which is very severe. The blood supply to the

cornea

is completely lost. The cornea in the affected eye has completely become white which means he has no vision,” he added.

Gauresh’s elder brother told TOI on Tuesday, “The doctors said there is a slight chance that he might regain part of his vision after six months of treatment.

Gauri, a homemaker, who suffered mild burns on the face is still in a Kalyan hospital, while her son Tanish, who sustained minor burns on the legs, has been sent home after treatment.

The incident took place on Sunday evening, when the Salaskars were returning to their home in Kalyan’s Chakki Naka area after shopping. “Near Ambedkar Chowk, as the truck ahead of our scooty was negotiating the bumpy road, some liquid fell on us and started to burn. Even before we could realize what happened, the tanker hit another bump and splashed more liquid on us. This happened three to four times,” Gauri told TOI. As the liquid fell on Gauresh’s face and right eye, he screamed in pain and hit the brakes even as Gauri and Tanish cried for help. “A couple got us admitted in Siddhivinayak Hospital in Kalyan (E),” she added.

Inputs by Sumitra Deb Roy



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