We often see news or read about Bomb Blasts. It may be in Kashmir, Temples, Military Camps and many more. But the one which made a huge impact on say whole India and specially Mumbai after serial bomb blast of 1993 was 11th July 2006 Serial blasts in Mumbai Local Train. 7 blast In First Class Compartments of seven different trains...AND I WAS IN ONE SUCH COMPARTMENT…
11th July' 06, a normal day for me, College was scheduled from 12 Noon to 6 PM. Java was always my favorite Subject. I had taken leave for couple of weeks from TCS where I was doing my Final Year project, to attend my college lectures. The whole day went on smoothly, it was very heavy lecture. Class Dispersed exactly at 6.00 PM and I, immediately left college. I walked to Bandra Station. On the way I just thought of calling my friend. On the way, I removed my mobile from my bag and called him, walking my way to station. I reached station some where around 6.15 p.m. I saw there were 2 trains scheduled to Borivli. I decided to take 6.18 p.m. slow train. I stood near First Class Compartment, waiting for the train. I had a couple of minutes in hand so thought of catching another First Class Compartment of same train so that in Borivali, I can exit platform fast. Then I, slowly started walking, Mean Time train arrived. I realized that I have forgotten to put my mobile back in to bag, So I sneaked my mobile in my jeans pant and boarded the train , It was Little crowded Train but I got to stand comfortable near East Side Gate, where I stood taking support of partition.. In there, I, feeling damn hungry was standing recollecting my lecture...Mom had cooked my favorite food as it was an auspicious day also, it was Guru Purnima. Then in just 3-4 minutes Khar Station Came. Few more people boarded the train and now it was little more pack now. I was now surrounded by few more people. Train took off for its next destination but unfortunately it never reached. As slowly train took speed .......................
All I remember was there was a loud noise all of sudden and I was flying in air, I remember my feet were not resting on floor, I could not see any thing but a very bright light. I felt the very sudden brakes of train and then I fell on a couple of people and over me were few people. I felt completely paralyzed and helpless. I was almost deaf but yet could hear people as if they were murmuring and all that I could hear were loud cries of people. I immediately realized it was a Bomb Blast. But my condition was so worst, I thought it’s my last moment of life and I just started praying "Shree Krishna Sharnam Mamah". I was not having any control on my hand legs , was feeling paralysed, neither was I able to see any thing then nor able to hear properly because of sudden fire and loud noise (approx 12000 desibles). But slowly I was able to move and with extreme pain, I just pushed people who fell on me , off me. One of the cut hand had been in my shirt collar, say by reflex action I just threw it in compartment and I slowly got up and all I saw in slightest vision that I had that both gates were piled up with people (Dead or alive I don’t know) but I saw one of the windows was completely blown.whole compartment had turned blask and every where was pool of blood and to worst people were cut, burnt and some were alive , flesh every where. I some how jumped from window which was blown away. I just walked 5-7 steps and my head was spinning like never before. I just forced myself and walked to next track and there I fell on tracks, absolutely paralyzed again.i rested my body perpendicular on tracks and rested my bace on track. It was a fully functional live track on which trains move, but i could not help myself as i was not even having strength to move a bit. I had by then started getting asthama attack and was feeling hard to breath every moment. The RDX powder was in my nose , mouth eyes, ears.... Temperature of my whole Body was dropping. I could feel My BP Falling. I just lied there for 5 minutes, what I could see was, a huge crowd of people around me. I slowly moved and with Support of my hand I again got up. all I saw was People crying shouting running....Then sitting I realized I have my mobile in my pocket (It was only day when my mobile was with me and not in my bag). I thought of calling my Mom But she will panic so called My Dad
Chintan : Pappaaaaaa (I was not able to speak), Pappaaaaaa!!!
Dad: Chintu!! Su thayu Beta (What Happened My Son)
Chintan : Pappa Mari train ma, Mara dabba ma Bomb blast thayo che!!! (Dad, there is a bomb Blast in My Train In my Compartment)
Dad: (Absolutely Shocked)Suuuuuuuuu?? Tu kya che (What!! where are you??)
Chintan :Hu baju na pata uppar chu (I Am On Side Track)
Dad: (Crying) Beta tu tyaj re hu hamraj aav Chu (U stay there i am coming right now)
Then i don’t know why but i thought of calling my mom , Just wanted to talk to her. it was then i realized i have got a sharp nail pierced deeply in my right hand and it had cut my nerves and it was bleeding profusely. but slowly i dialed my Mom's number and She picked Immediately. She was already crying badly and she could hardly speak (Dad must have called her)
Chintan: Hello
Mom : beta su thayu beta, kya che tu beta? (What happened my Son ,where are you)
Chintan: Mummy tu rad nahi, mane haat maj vaigu che tu direct Lilavati Hospital Aav
(Mummy Don’t cry, i have got hurt in hand , u come directly to lilavati Hospital)
Then from among crowd Some 1 got me water. but instead of drinking, I poured on my head and there was blood getting washed from my whole body, my whole body was like soaked in blood and some foul smelling of Bomb Blast Chemical.
I then realized there were many sharp nails in my head also which I pulled and threw them. Then slowly I stood up. I asked on of the person if he has clean handkerchief then please tie it on my hand wound tightly so that bleeding will slow down/ stop, and he did the same. while standing when I had a glance at train. It was the most horrified thing one could ever see. I saw dead bodies on track cut in to pieces bodies without head people hanging out of train and half of their bodies MISSING..., people were cut under the train. Till now no one had come out of from that compartment except me, then I saw people pulling a men who were alive... I started walking on tracks towards Santacruz, I asked one of the person there to walk with me as I was fainting and incase fall, to just help me. He agreed. After walking for about 10 Minutes I reached station there were people running here and there... one person on seeing me, got one of the autos emptied and asked me to go to the hospital. I asked the driver to take me to Lilavati , he said, “Its far, Should I take you to Asha Parekh hospital?” I refused and insisted to go to lilavati. One person accompanied me and my condition was only worsening. I was getting more and more unconscious. On the way we had to face, hell lot of traffic jam but the driver smartly drove and took me to Lilavati hospital.
The whole hospital was surrounded by security guards and they just asked me “From where?” I said “Khar-Santacruz ke beech mein (In middle of Khar-Santacruz)” .He just then asked, “Can you walk?”. I said, “Yes.” 4-5 people immediately took me to Casualty Ward.
Nurse asked my name and I answered. immediately doctors rushed in and came to me.. They asked me where all have u got hurt I said in my hand, I head, I am not able to see, and i am not able to hear properly. They immediately gave few injections and took my blood for testing. Two doctors started to examine me physically completely. It took them almost 15- 20 minutes to examine me completely right from head to toe. My right hand palm had turned black and ice cold, and i could not move my hand. And then the biggest fear caught me. i was in fear, if at all i lost my hand my WHOLE LIFE will be spoiled.. with extreme fear i asked doctor "Will i loose my hand ". doctor immidately relied "No you dont worry"
My Asthama was get more and more suffocating. They helped me clean my nose mouth face etc... They immediately gave me oxygen, cleaned my whole hand which had wound and 2nd degree burns also. It was very painful. Immediately after they put a medicines and plaster on my hand, there came a Radiologist who took some few X-rays, followed was a sonography to check for an internal bleeding.
Then I saw my friend there Rohit of my college. (My College is just opposite to the hospital). He looked equally shocked and said “Don’t worry, our whole class is here outside. Only one person is allowed inside, so I have come in. I handed over my gold chain and mobile to him.
After some time, I saw my dad standing near Causality Ward Gate. His eyes were completely red (How much he must have cried). He was not able to speak also. He just came to me and moved his hand on my head and was in tears again. I said, “ Dad don’t worry I am fine, I am not crying you too don’t cry. God is with me i am safe dad!”.
Doctor asked my dad to wait outside. Then my maternal Uncle and Aunty came in, all equally shocked and in tears.
I was till then very thirsty, But doctors refused to give even one drop of water coz their concern was internal bleeding. My Aunty pleaded them that I am very much thirsty, and give little water. But the doctor refused as it would be a problem incase there is any internal bleeding and they put me on saline bottles or some stuff I don’t know...
Then CAME MY Brother and MOM (mom's Eyes completely red, Absolutely Silent, Shocked state, and frozen to death). She slowly walked from gate towards me and moved her hand around my head, hands, legs, chest then she broke in to tears. I had a chat with my mom, told her the whole experience. I was feeling so good in presence of my mom. After a while, ENT doctor checked my ear, as it was difficult for me to hear. My mom consoled me “All will be fine dear.." Most facial hairs were burnt.
I had never seen my parents so scared and helpless. For them, the whole world had stopped. My dad could not stop crying so didn’t dare to walk to causality ward. and only my mom tried to be strong and stayed near me at all times. I had seen victims entering in very bad state, someone’s head torn, some one's hand cut off. Horrifying it was, I asked to close all curtains around me. I could not see any more.
I was changed from those blood soaked clothes to some hospital clothes , but the bad smell of blood and flesh and RDX stayed behind and it was just getting unbearable with every passing movement.
I was then given some pain killer injection and then after a while I went off to sleep. Next day was my Surgery. By next day all my college professor’s came along with my Principal. I just said, “Ma’am, I don’t want to miss my lectures”. They smiled and replied “Don’t think about it now”.
I was not given a single drop of water till surgery and then almost at 5:00 PM they took me to OT (God that was a scary place).
I was given few injections and in no time, I was unconscious. When I woke up, My family, relatives and few friends with their parents were around me. I was in semi unconscious state so could not talk to any one.
I stayed in hospital for some days and was discharged. Finally, I could go home.
I had left for home of 11/7/2006 from college and reached home on 15/7/2006.
It was such a long and deadly journey..
Today almost 4 years hav passes of that accident and i still remember every bit of that accident , that force ,that blackout , those moments of hospital and Long medication after that............
