For more than 20 years, Ashok Dagale, 44, served as a conductor for a public service—the BEST bus. But on Thursday night, his family found themselves navigating the complex maze of the city’s public hospital system after Dagale was stabbed while trying to stop a thief who had snatched his phone and was eyeing his bag containing Rs 2,195 in cash. The incident occurred at 9.15 pm, while the bus was stationary at the Yellow Bungalow bus stop in Dharavi, and as per Sion hospital records, Dagale was admitted by 10.45 pm. 

His treatment started immediately because his injuries were visibly serious,” recalled his wife, Shilpa, who was accompanied by their 16-year-old son. However, the family also recounted having to plead with hospital authorities to secure a proper bed for Dagale, who was left on a metal trolley throughout the night due to a lack of beds in the surgical ward.