Three months ago, 24-year-old Ishtiaq Ansari came to Delhi from the small village of Sonadi in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, with hopes of getting an MBA degree.

The first in his family to go to college — the youngster, who was injured in the Mehrauli blast, lost his battle for life on Sunday morning at AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Ansari’s death takes the toll of the Mehrauli blast to three. While Santosh (9) had lost his life on the spot, Dipu (23) had succumbed to his injuries on Friday morning.

On the day of the blast, Ansari, along with friends Shyam Bahadur and Satyajeet Chaudhari, had gone to Mehrauli to shop for Eid. All three were first year students of Integrated Management College in Saket. The blast occurred as they were crossing the street near the Sarai Electronic Market.

Though all three were injured, Ansari’s injuries turned out to be fatal. “He was almost dead when he was bought to the Trauma Centre,” said Dr MC Mishra, Director, AIIMS Trauma Centre. He had suffered extensive head and abdomen injuries. “We operated upon him immediately. But the damage to his brain and kidneys was irreparable. The chances of his survival were very bleak,” he added.

Son of a small trader, Ansari had come to Delhi after getting his BCom degree from Allahabad.

“My brother always wanted to study and do well. I still can’t believe that he lost his life in a terror attack,” said a shaken Saddam Hussein, Ansari’s 17-year-old brother.

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