Mumbai: Two days after a devastating fire claimed the lives of a 2-year-old boy and his family’s 23-year-old domestic worker, Ankita Chettri, it was a former employer—in whose house she worked many years ago—who finally stepped forward to help her grieving family claim her body.Until then, Ankita’s body had been resting at the post-mortem centre in Vile Parle since Tuesday night, remaining there all the way up to late Thursday evening in the absence of blood relatives such as her parents, who reside in West Bengal. Her post-mortem was also delayed by days due to lack of consent.Ankita had been working at builder Hiren Batavia’s family home in Shanta Bhuvan on Baptista Road. She was found dead in their bathroom with Batavia’s two-year-old grandson, Abir, while trying to save herself and the toddler from a fire that broke out in their house on the 11th floor.Both died of smoke inhalation. The Batavia family did not wish to comment on Ankita’s death. Ankita’s former employer and her aunt, Kamla, who now works in their home, were at the post-mortem centre. Her former employer, who did not wish to be named, said Ankita used to take care of her children for a few years and had also been studying at the same time.Kamla did not wish to comment further but others in her family have been told about Ankita’s death.A case of accidental death has been registered at Santacruz Police. “We allowed them to claim the body after a letter was received from the blood relatives,” said senior PI Dattatray Masvekar.Ankita’s post-mortem began late evening and by press time her body was expected to be handed over to her aunt to take back to West Bengal.
