Andheri's Gokhale Bridge collapsed on July 3, snuffing out the dreams of the Mehta family. Victim Manoj Mehta, 52, a Chartered Accountant, died three weeks later, succumbing to injuries in hospital. This meant his older daughter had to scotch her dream of studying abroad at least temporarily. The family was given R5 lakh as compensation and paid a deposit of Rs 4.5 lakh to the hospital where Manoj Mehta underwent treatment with his bill going as high as Rs 52 lakh.

Now the Railways has to pay the hospital Rs 52 lakh, as only then the hospital will release R4.5 lakh, which they are holding as deposit. The Railways and the hospital need to open channels of communication very quickly. The Railways has to realise that they cannot heap more despair and difficulty on a family that has suffered for no fault of theirs.