But this hasn't deterred a steady stream of visitors that throng the bedside of Jaybala Ashar, the 23-year-old TYBCom student who was pushed out of a running train at Charni Road on Monday.

``We wanted to catch a glimpse of this brave girl who we've read so much about,'' says Hemnath Waigankar, who's come with his five-year-old son Ketan in tow. The duo have just been turned back by doctors. Hemant wistfully pats a bar of chocolate in his pocket. ``My son insisted I buy this for her, it's the least I could do.''

It's almost as though the city is trying to make amends for the three care-a-damn female commuters who just sat and watched Jaybala being robbed and pushed off the train.

Even as she lies immobilised on her hospital bed, both her legs amputated, help has been streaming in from all quarters. Politicians with cash awards, teachers leadingclassrooms armed with `get well soon' cards, social workers offering her a job, and even casual visitors with bouquets have all stepped in with their mite.

Her father Chandrakant Ashar sits dazed and unshaven outside the trauma ward, greeting visitors. ``We're grateful for all the help she's getting,'' is all he says with folded hands. He reels out a list of illustrious visitors, Union Minister of State for Railways Ram Naik, Minister of State for Home Gajanan Kirtikar, ex-MP Jaywantiben Mehta, corporator Sardar Tara Singh and others.

South Mumbai MP Murli Deora has already donated Rs 25,000, the state government has sanctioned Rs 5,000 from the CM's Relief Fund. Ram Naik sanctioned Rs 50,000 for her bravery and she is also to be recommended for the President's award. Mumbai police have given her Rs 5,000.

A day earlier, Dr Mariamma Varghese, vice-chancellor of SNDT Women's University and Dr Hemlata Parasnis, registrar of the university, visited Jaybala with a donation of Rs 5000. They assured her ofhelp with the examination she couldn't complete.

The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha is planning to prominently display sketches of her attacker at public places like Fountain, CST and Churchgate.But the most positive outcome of this entire episode, Chandrakant Ashar says, is the awareness it has created among people. ``At least railway police have started providing security in ladies compartments,'' he says.

But doctors are far from happy with the constant crowds. ``She receives at least 30 visitors every hour,'' says an exasperated doctor. And if that isn't enough, she has to contend with the railway police, who come to the ward every morning to prepare sketches of the suspect or for an identification parade.''