Blasts toll rises to 25

Hours after his gangrene-infected leg was amputated, Vallabhai Gadhia, died of a heart attack at Saifee Hospital on Thursday morning, taking the toll in the July 13 serial blasts to 25.

The 48-year-old diamond broker suffered a compound fracture in his right leg in the blast at Opera House. According to doctors at Saifee Hospital, the leg subsequently developed gangrene. Gadhia underwent an amputation on Wednesday to curb the spread of gangrene. "We had tried our best to save his leg," said a senior doctor from Saifee Hospital, requesting anonymity. "Over the last ten days, we sent him for special therapies to Jaslok Hospital so that his injuries could heal faster." In fact, Gadhia was shifted from the Intensive Care Unit to the general ward after he showed signs of improvement.

Doctors at Saifee Hospital had told Hindustan Times on Wednesday that no patient was critical at the hospital and that all the blast victim in the hospital were recuperating well.

But on Wednesday, when the infection on his leg started worsening, doctors had no choice but to take Gadhia in for an amputation. Till that point, Gadhia's family was hopeful of his recovery. "He was recuperating well before the surgery, and had even started talking to us," said Pravinbhai Gadhia, a member of his family.

However, after the surgery on Wednesday, his condition worsened. At 2.15 am on Thursday, Vallabhai Gadhia suffered a heart attack and passed away in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. Gadhia is survived by his wife and four children.