Pune: After a prolonged wait of seven months, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has finally sanctioned financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each to the families of Vedant Sonune and Siddhant Khaire, two students who succumbed to dengue while staying at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hostel on Ghole Road.
The students passed away in August 2024, but their families had to struggle for support despite repeated appeals. Vedant Sonune, one of the victims, died after being admitted to a private hospital, where his body was withheld until his financially struggling parents could clear the hospital bill. His family was forced to borrow money at high interest rates from relatives to retrieve his remains.
Following this tragic incident, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena’s state coordinator Prashant Kanojia and the Sakal newspaper persistently advocated for compensation for the families. However, PMC initially stated that there was no provision for financial assistance in such cases. Sakal’s continued coverage of the issue eventually led the Social Development Department to draft a proposal requesting funds from the state government.
Intervention from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar played a crucial role in resolving the matter. He instructed PMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale to ensure that the families received compensation through municipal funds. Despite these directives, the proposal was delayed within different PMC departments for seven months.
Delayed Action, Final Resolution
Last week, PMC reimbursed ₹1 lakh to Vedant’s family for hospital expenses, but the proposal for additional financial support remained pending. After further media pressure from Sakal, the proposal was finally approved by Commissioner Dr. Bhosale, granting ₹5 lakh each to both families. Additionally, in a show of solidarity, an elderly couple, Jaishree and Vijay Bhagwat, donated ₹10,000 to Vedant’s family.
"We worked hard to give Vedant a good education and send him to Pune for higher studies. He was our support in old age, and now that support is gone. We are emotionally and financially shattered. We can never get our son back, but this financial aid will help us survive."
– Asha Sonune, Mother of Vedant Sonune.