Dakshak won this trophy with his group hours before he was hurt

MUMBAI: Hours before sustaining a severe spinal injury during a dahi handi event on Saturday, 26-year-old Dakshak Kelaskar sent his parents a picture of him kissing a winning trophy (see pic).Waiting outside the trauma ward of Sion Hospital on Tuesday, where Dakshak is now battling for life, his father Laxman said, "He loves to participate in dahi handi. He has done so since he was 16."

A bike injury three years ago hindered Dakshak from climbing on the higher tiers of the pyramid, but his parents said he would stay on the lower tiers now as a safety ring for those climbing up. On Saturday, he left with his Thane-based group Dharmaveer Govinda Pathak to break handis and kept sending pictures to his family. The updates stopped after 7.30pm.

"I called him when he didn't come home till late that evening. One of his friends then told us he suffered an injury near Mulund and was taken to a private hospital in Thane," said Laxman, who works as a security guard. According to Laxman, the pyramid fell as they were trying to break a handi near Mulund. A few of them sustained minor injuries, but Dakshak was unable to move. Later on Saturday, he was moved to the civic-run Sion Hospital.

Sion doctors on Tuesday said his condition was "extremely critical". "He has a fractured vertebra that has affected the muscle movement in his entire body. As of now, he hardly has any sensation in the upper or lower limbs. He also doesn't have any bladder control," said Dr Arvind Goregaonkar, head of orthopaedics at Sion Hospital. Further, a metal rod in his leg that was fitted post his bike accident has become a hurdle in carrying out an MRI. "A surgery is out of question at this point as his vitals are unstable. We are struggling to maintain his blood pressure," he said.

The hospital has so far not charged the family for any medical expenses, but they are anxious about the days to come. His father confirmed that Dakshak didn't have any insurance cover, though dahi handi pathaks had promised a Rs 10 lakh life cover. A member of the group, however, told TOI that he was not an active participant since his accident three years ago. "He was only accompanying us to be a part of the festivity," said the member. His father said the group has extended financial support of Rs 20,000.

