Malleswaram blast victim fighting against odds

Ten months on, Malleswaram bomb blast victim Leesha N S is yet to recover from her injuries. A budding dancer, she is unsure whether she can dance ever again.

Seventeen-year-old Leesha, who was learning Bharath­anatyam at Sharma’s Dance Centre for over three years, harbours hopes of being able to walk again. She cannot walk without support today. 

Resigned to her fate, Leesha said: “I might not be able to dance.” The girl suffered severe injuries and compound fracture of the bone following which she has undergone five surgeries. She is currently pursuing Bachelor of Computer Application at Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College. Her routine check-ups force her to miss classes.

“I ask my teachers to help me. My friends cooperate by sharing notes,” she said adding every two days a week she visits hospital for treatment.  M S Ramaiah Hospital Professor and Head Orthopaedics Department, Dr Harshad Shah said, Leesha’s condition was complicated as a few pieces of bone were lost at site due to open wound.

“She had to undergo debridement.” An external fixator was the only option to treat her condition. Further, her left leg, post surgeries, was shorter than right forcing her to limp. “We hope to correct this through treatment,” he added. 

Leesha’s father is hoping to get compensation for her medical treatment. While she was given Rs 1 lakh each by the government and a private television channel, Leesha claimed her bills have run up to Rs 7 lakh. “My father is a daily wage worker. We are passing through a rough patch financially and hope to get some aid,” she said.