Gurgaon: A 35-year-old worker, who lost her right forearm in an accident and remained stuck in hospital over unpaid bills, was finally able to return home on Thursday evening. Soon after TOI highlighted the plight of Sanju Devi, her employer Richa Gupta cleared the outstanding medical expenses. In another gesture of support, a TOI reader approached Sanju and gave her Rs 10,000 to help her cope with the immediate financial difficulties.Having undergone three surgeries following the Sept 25 accident, she had been struggling not only with her injuries but also with the uncertainty surrounding her hospital bills and her family’s future. Returning home in Dhankot has brought the “much-needed relief” after days of physical pain and emotional distress. “Now, I have to figure out how to rebuild my life, support my family and ensure my children’s future despite everything that has happened,” Sanju told TOI, adding, “Being stuck in the hospital because of unpaid bills was extremely depressing. Amid unbearable pain, the trauma of losing my hand and the uncertainty over when I would be able to go home made things even harder.”Sanju’s husband Prahalad said her employer Richa negotiated with the hospital, which offered a discount and brought the final bill down to Rs 7.5 lakh. “After several days of uncertainty, my wife was discharged around 8pm on Thursday and we could finally bring her home,” Prahalad said. Richa said Sanju had been like a family member to her, having worked with her for nearly six years. “It took me some time to arrange the money, but I was always trying to resolve the matter,” Richa told TOI.Sanju’s challenges are far from over. “We can focus on her recovery. But the loss of her forearm has left her facing an uncertain future, with questions over her ability to work, our children’s education and the family’s financial stability still weighing heavily on us,” said Prahalad, who works as a labourer and has health issues.Sanju had lost her right forearm after her hand got trapped in a mustard oil extraction machine at Richa Food Industry near Bhim Nagar Chowk. Sanju had earlier told TOI that she was alone at the unit when the accident occurred. She alleged that she had been asked to operate the machine despite raising concerns about the work. Her hand became caught in the machinery, pulling her body towards it and she managed to free herself only after losing a substantial part of her arm. She then ran out of the unit, bleeding heavily, and sought help from people on the road. Fruit sellers nearby took her to a nearby private hospital from where she was shifted to Optimus Hospital in Garhi Harsaru, where she underwent three surgeries.During her hospital stay, Sanju also feared that another infection could lead to the amputation of her entire arm. A case was registered at City Gurgaon police station against Richa under sections 125(a) and 289 of BNS. Richa had denied allegations of negligence, claiming that Sanju had been operating the machine for five to six years and was familiar with the work. She had also alleged that Sanju was not following the prescribed safety precautions at the time of the accident.Their son, Akash, a Class 8 student, had earlier expressed concern that the family’s financial difficulties could force him to give up his studies. He had also hoped that his mother might eventually receive a silicone or robotic hand to help her regain some independence.
