Recent Update by Ramadevi mataji Dear Friends of Braja Sevaki and Jahnudvipa, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

For now the general news about Braja and Jahnu is good. As you may well know, Braja is back in Mayapur and, for the time being, recuperating at my house. She’s still very sore all over but her face is improving every day. And today she wanted cheese and tomato toast for breakfast so things are looking up.

Jahnu was moved to a private room yesterday and will have a 24 hour attendant with him as Braja is not able to be there. He still has one chest drain in and was sedated again because of agitation. The doctors say this is normal in these situations. But hopefully, being in a private room will be more peaceful for him and he can make speedy progress. He still needs many of your prayers.

The cost of the medical treatment so far has been upwards of $20,000 and Jahnu is not out of there yet. So it could be as much as $30,000 by the end. Many of you have enquired as to how you may offer some financial assistance for the medical expenses. We will be setting up a paypal account which will be accessible from Braja’s blogsite - http://lostandfoundinindia.blogspot.com

A lot of people have expressed concern about her info being out there.

Anybody sending a donation should let me know by email as to when and how much you have sent so we can keep track of it.

There will be separate information for donations to help the driver but I haven’t been given them yet. I’ll send them out as soon as I can.

Braja and Jahnu are so grateful for all the love being sent their way. They feel that their recoveries have been expedited by all your love and prayers. Thank you on their behalf.

“And big licks from the cow shed!” said Braja!!

Your servant Ramadevi dasi

We humbly request the prayers of all the Vaisnavas for the speedy recovery and spiritual well-being of two Mayapur residents, Jahnudvipa prabhu from Denmark, and his wife Brajasevaki dasi from Australia, who were badly injured in a car crash at Madhyamgram just near the Kolkata airport on the morning of 12th March 2009. Jahnudvipa has broken legs and possible internal injuries and is listed as very critical. Brajasevaki was unconscious with facial and leg injuries but not believed to be as bad as her husband. Both are now in the Apollo hospital in Kolkata.

Latest Update by Hari Sauri Dasa on 18 March 2009: This is a brief update on the condition of Jahnudvipa and Braja Sevaki prabhus.

Braja Sevaki is doing well and will be discharged today. She is going to return to Mayapur to complete her recuperation.

Jahnudvipa prabhu is also progressing. After a brief relapse which required him to be sedated for the last two days, he is now fully conscious and can hold brief conversations. He still has a fair way to go due to multiple fractures but the concerns about his internal damage is now over and doctors are pleased with his progress.

I wish to also correct a miscommunication wherein I previously reported that the Mayapur temple was going to cover the medical expenses for these two devotees and the driver. This was incorrectly conveyed to me, and the actual situation is that the Mayapur temple has guaranteed to the hospital the payments for all care so that there would be no delays in getting any operations done and medicines administered. However, this is only meant as a bridging loan, and will have to be repaid to the temple.

This will be the last bulletin from myself, and any further inquiries may be directed to Braja Sevaki directly.

Your humble servant,

Hari-sauri dasa

Latest Update by Hari Sauri Dasa on 16 March 2009:

Braja Sevaki was doing well, back to her old self, at least mentally. She was much more alert and lively and was sitting up. She had a few complaints about a drain tube that had been inserted in her back to drain her lungs and wanted it removed so she could lie down and rest properly, so that was a good sign.

The swelling on her face has gone down considerably although she still has a patchwork of stitches, bruises and red welts all over. When we saw her the day before she could only open one eye but now she can open both. She will be operated on again in the next couple of days for more plastic surgery and to have a plate put in her wrist. She expects to be out of ICU in about 4 days.

Jahnudvipa prabhu was in the ward when we came in, but heavily sedated. His 6 hrs. operation the night before was to the satisfaction of the doctors. They reconstructed his jaw and did some work on the fractures in his arms. He has come to full consciousness several times but the doctors are keeping him sedated so that his body will heal faster. I was surprised to see that he does not have a mark on his face at all just some swelling around his jaw. The only cut we could see was from the operation on his jaw. His prognosis has improved considerably and he will undergo more surgery for his legs soon.

The driver we did not see but were informed that he is not doing too well and there is still a chance his leg will be amputated. There was also some concern about whether he will survive or not.

Braja Sevaki told us that when they were dragged from the wreckage, the local people thought they were dead because they were both unconscious. They were taken to the local state hospital and Braja Sevaki was literally dragged down the corridor by one arm and dumped on the floor. Jahnudvipa, who was in a coma and has multiple fractures, received the same treatment.

By Krsna’s arrangement someone was there who understood they were ISKCON devotees, and saw that they were not dead but still breathing. That person called our Mayapur temple and our managers immediately contacted Radharaman prabhu in Kolkata. He went immediately to the hospital and arranged for them to be taken to the Apollow.

Sunday Update 5.30 PM:

Ramadevi is at the hospital. She says Jahnudvipa is awake and responding, smiling and squeezed her hand to let her know that he understands what they are saying. He is unable to speak because of his broken jaw but he can communicate with his eyes and understands everything that is going on.

The doctors have rerouted his respirator from his throat to his nose and in general he is improving quite well.

Sivarama Swami and BB Govinda Maharaja visited the hospital after returning to Kolata from Bhubaneswar.

Braja Sevaki wishes to sincerely thank all the devotees who have offered prayers for their well-being, that has truly been a major factor in helping them get through this.

Your humble servant

Hari-sauri dasa

Latest Update by Hari Sauri Dasa on 14 March 2009: I went with Tridandi dasa and Bhakti Fabio to see Braja Sevaki yesterday afternoon (Friday) at the Apollo hospital and she is doing relatively well. She had plastic surgery the evening before, so her face is a patchwork of stitches, but the swelling has gone down about 2/3. She will need two more ops. on her face, her left wrist is broken, she had a another minor op. to suck out some air that was forming in her rib cage due to a punctured lung, but she is not in any danger and its really just a question of time for healing. We were able to speak to her for about 20 minutes and she is in relatively good spirits. She should be out of the ICU in about 6 days.

Jahnudvipa had some surgery the evening of the first day, to ensure that his punctured lungs would not collapse. He is under sedation and went under the knife again late yesterday afternoon for a 6-7 hours operation to fix his jaw which has been shattered, and his arms which have multiple breaks. He was sitting in the seat directly behind the driver. He will need more operations in the coming weeks because he has multiple breaks all over his body. He also has a punctured liver and the next few days will reveal whether he has any further damage to any other organs. He has a fracture at the back of his skull but apart from some bruising he does not appear to have suffered any brain damage. His prognosis is however more positive and the fact that they chose to operate yesterday afternoon is a good sign that he is getting a little stronger.

The driver may or may not lose his leg, depending on the success of the operation he underwent. Otherwise he has no other major injuries.

Braja Sevaki told me that she remembers yelling at the driver “You are going to hit that truck!” and then she hit the windscreen and doesn’t remember anything else. I am attaching a couple of photos sent to me by Murari Gupta prabhu, sobering testiment to the dangers of travel on Indian roads.

Kolkata vice president Radharaman dasa, who arranged for their transfer to the Apollow hospital and who has spent most of the last two days at the hospital with them, told me that the Mayapur temple has said it will pay for Jahnudvipa and Braja Sevaki’s medical costs, and the driver’s will be paid for from Kolkata. They have already spent Rs. 1,34,000.00 on the driver.

A number of devotees are constantly at the hospital and Ramadevi dasi, who is spending a lot of time with Braja Sevaki at the hospital is handling any inquiries about them at her email address ramadevi.acbsp@pamho.net.

Latest update on Jahnudvipa and Braja Sevaki prabhus as heard from Ramadevi dasi at 2.30 PM India time March 13:

Braja Sevaki had plastic surgery on facial injuries last night and seems to have come out of that quite well. She looked much better this morning. Doctors also discovered a broken rib and possibly punctured lung, and she also has a broken left wrist.

Jahnudvipa prabhu is stable and the doctors have decided to operate on him tonight instead of waiting, considering that he is already under sedation. They will operate on his broken jaw and arms.

The driver was operated on last night and doctors are trying to save his leg. Some severed blood vessels were reattached by a specialist and some warmth in the lower extremity was detected this morning, so that is a hopeful sign that the leg may not need to be amputated.

Things are becoming clearer but still remain a little fluid, but all in all there is some improvement for the three of them, but Jahnu remains critical, and Braja Sevaki is still in the ICU (intensive care unit).

Another update will be sent out this evening.

Here is an update on the condition of Jahnudvipa and Braja Sevaki prabhus, phoned in by Ramadevi at 7.30 PM Indian time March 12 2009:

Braja Sevaki is currently undergoing plastic surgery on her face. She was sitting in the back seat and hit the front windscreen, knocking a 2 inch hole in it. She has either a broken shoulder or arm, the doctors have not yet ascertained which. She may also have some damage to her hip. Otherwise she is conscious and is not in mortal danger.

Jahnudvipa prabhu is critical. He has multiple fractures and both lungs and his liver are punctured. There is some leakage of brain fluid but the doctors are not too worried about this, they feel it will stop of its own accord.

Jahnudvipa is however stable and his skin color is good. He is unconscious but showing some signs of external consciousness and his coma status has been downgraded.

The doctors are giving him 60% chance of survival at this time, but say that if there is any real danger to his life it will come from his lung damage. The doctors are declining to do any operations for at least 48-72 hours until they feel he has sufficiently stablized.

The driver is likely to lose his leg and has other fractures.

A devotee observer reported that the front passenger seat, which was empty, took most of the impact and was completely obliterated. The driving wheel was rammed up into the roof and the driver’s seat was smashed into the back of the Sumo. Somehow the driver survived. It is not known at this time what the specific cause of the accident was.

Tusti Mohan Krsna das reports: on the nice preaching activities of Jahnudvipa prabhu and Brajasevaki mataji in serving at Sri Mayapur dhama.

We humbly request all the devotees to please pray for our very dear God brother Jahnudvipa Prabhu and his good wife Her Grace Brajasevaki devi dasi as both are in the Apollo hospital in Calcutta after having a very dangerous accident today morning. Jahnudvipa Prabhu is a disciple of our beloved Gurumaharaja HH Jayapataka Swami and Braja Sevaki mataji is a disciple of HH Tamal Krnsa Maharaja and took second initiation from our Gurumaharaja, (I was told by a phone call that HH JPS already got the news and praying for them). Both are very dear God brother/sister and are very much respected for their great service to our community in Mayapur, Brajasevaki is one of the best editors that we have in ISKCON, She is very much skilled in proofreading and editing. Many of the good works in the our Krsna conscious publications are done by her. Krsna has blessed her with sharp intelligence and very high degree of responsibility, so she always serve in her best level all what is required from her. We all admire her tenacity and brave personality as well. Jahnudvipa das has always shown very much love and affection for our Gurudeva and always showing enthusiasm to do more seva and help in everything possible, he also helps in doing the Mayapur journal and assist all of us in graphic designs as well. As they are now in hospital we humbly request all devotees to please pray for their speed recovery. They both are very active in improving the grihasta community in Mayapur dham. We miss their association and pray to Lord Narasimhadeva for their protection while they are undergoing this heavy test in this life. May Sri Krishna Bhagavan help always the devotees in their preaching activities as all are risking their lives under these heavy conditions in this material world.

Your humble servant
Tusti Mohan Krsna das

Here is an update as of 3:00 PM March 12 2009 India time on the condition of Mayapur residents Sriman Jahnudvipa dasa from Denmark and his wife Braja Sevaki dasi from Australia. They suffered a head-on crash with a truck in the early hours of this morning on the way in to Kolkata, at Madhyamgram just before the airport.

They and the driver, a hired man who has worked for our Namahatta for many years, are now in the Apollo hospital. They had brain scans because all of them had head injuries, but fortunately the scans didn’t show any damage other than bruising in Jahnu’s head.

The damage to Jahnu is extensive and the doctors are not sure he will survive. Most of his bones are broken, including his jaw, ribs, punctured lung, broken arms and possibly hand, broken legs, and other injuries yet to be ascertained. He was in almost the highest level of coma when he was admitted but that has reduced and he is showing some signs of external consciousness. The doctor was asked what the chances of full recovery were in cases as bad as this and he was not optimistic. He said it was rare. His condition is critical at this moment.

Braja Sevaki has facial and leg injuries and was pulled from the wreckage unconscious. However she is fully conscious now and spoke with Ramadevi dasi on the phone. Ramadevi has gone into Kolkata to be with her.

The driver had both legs crushed as well as many other injuries and lost a lot of blood. One of his legs will probably have to be amputated.

Once again we humbly request the assembled devotees to please pray for their well being and speedy recovery.

Your humble servant,
Hari-sauri dasa