Just days after the devastating Bharat Nagar chawl collapse in Bandra East — triggered by an LPG gas leak — there is a fragile thread of hope running through the debris. On Monday, eight of the 15 injured victims were discharged from KB Bhabha Hospital in Bandra.

“We have ensured that they have a house to stay in and only then discharged them. When we informed them that they can be discharged, we asked each one of them where they are going to stay and if proper care will be taken as their injuries haven’t healed completely and will take at least another month or so for complete recovery,” said Dr Vinod Khade, medical superintendent of Bhabha Hospital.

Among those still under medical care are two patients with serious burn injuries, currently admitted at KEM Hospital, and an eight-year-old boy suffering a head injury, now under observation by a team of neurospecialists at the same hospital. “He is stable but under close watch,” confirmed a hospital official, adding, “In case we see any minute difference in behaviour or eating patterns, or eyesight issues, further tests will be done. But as of now, he is stable and is fully conscious.”