“My Grandson Abandoned Me Here”: The Heartbreaking Story of a Cancer-Stricken Grandmother Found in Mumbai’s Trash

Mumbai: Can a person truly be so heartless as to abandon the very grandmother who once taught them to walk? This is not just another news report—it’s a gut-wrenching tale that has shaken Mumbai and, perhaps, the entire nation.

.

.

.

This is the story of 60-year-old Yashoda Gaikwad, a grandmother battling deadly skin cancer, who was found discarded like garbage on a roadside in Mumbai’s Aarey Colony. The incident unfolded early Saturday morning, when Mumbai police officers, on their routine patrol, noticed something unusual in a pile of trash.

As they approached, they were stunned to find an elderly woman, wrapped in a sari, lying nearly unconscious amidst filth and stench. Her body was so frail she could barely move. The officers rushed to help her and tried to speak to her. When Yashoda mustered enough strength to whisper, her words broke even the hardest of hearts:

“My grandson brought me here and left me.”

Imagine—the same grandson she once cared for, who she may have stayed up nights to comfort, now abandoning his cancer-stricken grandmother to die alone in a heap of garbage.

But the tragedy didn’t end there. The real struggle had only begun. Although police rescued Yashoda in the morning, it took the entire day to find her a hospital bed. Hospital after hospital refused to admit her, citing her critical condition and lack of identification documents. It was only after a day of desperate attempts that she was finally admitted to Cooper Hospital around 5:30 pm.

The police are now investigating the case thoroughly. Yashoda was able to provide two addresses—one in Malad, another in Kandivali—which may belong to her relatives. Police teams are searching both locations and have circulated her photo to all Mumbai police stations in hopes of finding her family and bringing her grandson to justice.

A senior officer from Aarey Police Station said, “It’s heartbreaking to see someone treat a sick, elderly woman so inhumanely. We are doing everything we can to locate her relatives and take strict action against those responsible.”

This is more than just a news story—it’s a mirror held up to our society. It raises uncomfortable questions: Are we, as children and grandchildren, beginning to see our elders as burdens? Social media users are outraged, demanding the harshest punishment for the grandson. But will punishment heal the pain Yashoda has endured?

For now, Yashoda is receiving treatment at Cooper Hospital. Her story is a stark reminder that caring for our elders is a responsibility, not a favor.

What do you think about this heartbreaking incident? Share your thoughts in the comments.