Another injured dies,toll now 20

Another person injured in the Zaveri Bazaar blast last week succumbed to his injuries,taking the death toll to 20.

Another person injured in the Zaveri Bazaar blast last week succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning,taking the death toll to 20.

Ashok Vithoba Bhate,45,died at the JJ Hospital at 11:15 am today. Bhate was admitted on the night of the blasts with 50 per cent burns and a serious injury on his right leg. He was being treated in the ICU,but succumbed to his injuries this morning, said Dr T P Lahane,dean of JJ Hospital.

Bhate,a resident of Aarey Colony in Goregaon east,worked as a delivery man at a shop in Zaveri Bazaar. He had gone to eat in one of the shops when the explosion took place. He was there along with his nephew who was also injured,but not as severely, said Bhates brother-in-law,Sanjay Dumar.

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Bhate is survived by his wife and three children. His youngest daughter is about a month-and-a-half old. She hasnt even been named yet. His aged mother is in a state of shock, said Dumar.

Despite his injuries,his health seemed to be improving. He was conscious and was even taking in fluids. But then last evening,his condition started deteriorating all of a sudden. He was unable to breathe and the doctors put him on the ventilator, said Bhates elder brother,Prakash.