MUMBAI, July 27 -- A week after the July 20 accident in Mankhurd involving a BEST bus killed one person and left 10 others injured, all but two have been discharged from hospital. But the lives and livelihoods of all 10 injured now stand completely disrupted, even though they are receiving free medical care at Govandi's civic-run Shatabdi Hospital. Families of the injured told HT that other expenses were crippling them. "We were struggling with a debt of Rs.1.5 lakh which we had taken for my father-in-law's treatment when this happened," said Chinta Ajanta, wife of 42-year-old Sumangal Maiti. Maiti, a contractual labourer at HPCL, was returning from a night shift when the accident occurred. "Since we can't afford a chair or mattress, my husband is unable to even sit or rest properly," said Chinta. "He writhes in pain night and day." Chinta, a domestic worker, earns Rs.14,000 every month, but as the primary caregiver of her husband, is unable to work right now. Maiti's monthly income of around Rs.30,000 too has stopped, and the family is worried about how they will pay their monthly rent of Rs.8,000. Although medical treatment is free, the couple must spend on other pressing things. "The other day, I had to go from counter to counter just trying to get his X-ray done free of cost," said Chinta. "I told them that as BEST accident victims, we were entitled to free treatment. But they asked me to get the sanction in writing, which took all day. By then, the X-ray facility was shut, so we will have to spend on rickshaws again on Monday. It costs Rs.70 one way." The family said that BEST officials visited them and spoke about compensation, but they would not be receiving anything immediately. "We desperately need money now. What is the point of paying compensation afterwards?" asked Chinta. Like Maiti, 23-year-old Sanket Nakti was also returning from work on the morning of July 20 when the accident occurred. Nakti, who was travelling in the bus, was thrown four seats away, resulting in 10 stitches to his head, seven stitches to his lips, a fractured left knee and chest injuries. Since then, it has been a daily struggle for his 60-year-old mother Savita Nakti, who has to help him sit up and take him to the toilet. She herself is a cardiac patient and entirely dependent on her son's monthly earnings of Rs.16,000, after the demise of Sanket's father and brother. The family is staring at homelessness, as they lack the money to pay rent of Rs.6,000 at Shivneri Nagar, Mankhurd. Sanket's married sister Riddhi Kuley, 35, has stepped forward to help, but told HT that she too was struggling with financial problems. "Although BEST officials helped us get a wheelchair, a walker and a urine pot, I had to spend Rs.300 on a taxi to pick up the stuff," said Riddhi. "Forget other expenses, we need so much money just to travel to the hospital. Why are we paying the price for simply travelling by BEST? The officials told us compensation would take some time. Why don't they give it now when we are desperately struggling?" Lata Vaghela, a fruit vendor from Chembur Camp, the sole earning member in her family, continues to be hospitalised with a broken hand and chest pain. "On the morning of the accident, I had borrowed Rs.5,000 at 10% interest to buy fruit for my cart," she said. "I ended up using the money for hospital expenses. I might have to borrow more to handle routine expenses, now that I am not able to run the business." Her son, who sells sarees, is also unable to support her. "He is also facing tough times because of hawker eviction drives," said Vaghela, who fears that her inability to pay rent will force her to leave Mumbai and return to Gujarat. When contacted, a BEST spokesperson told HT that victims' medical expenses would be taken care of and the process to award compensation was on....