NEWS

Jogeshwari blast: 'How could this happen to me?'

By Syed Firdaus Ashraf and Vijay Singh in Mumbai
July 31, 2003

Manohar Chavan sits quietly and weeps at the entrance of Cooper Hospital in suburban Mumbai area of Vile Parle

His relatives try to console him but he is unable to hold his tears, "How could this happen to me? I have never done anything wrong in my life. I have never harmed anyone. How could life be so cruel to me?" asks Manohar to his relatives.

Manohar was a happy-go-lucky man till the clock struck 0310 hous on Thursday, July 31.

His two children, Gaurav Manohar (12) and Sanchita Chavan (17) passed away in the blast that occurred at Jogeshwari in Mumbai. 

             Also read: Drive against illegal storage of explosives
                              Advani asks Maharashtra to streamline security

"He is very upset and has not been able to control his emotions ever since the news came that his two children have died," says Arvind More.

Five feet away from Manohar sits Vikram Singh, keeping his hand over his head, "I just don't believe that my one year old daughter Siddhi is no more. She died on the spot and I could not do anything to save her," he weeps.

"My son Chetan who is five year old is also serious. He has been admitted in another hospital at KEM. I hope he recovers. I have no idea why this man Dilnawaz Khan did this to all of us? We didn't know him and what he used to do? He has ruined our lives."

The ire against Dilnawaz is obvious in the hospital premises and all of them are wondering who this man was and what he used to do.

Initial reports suggest that he used to work in Bollywood and with explosives.

Prasad Singh, another eyewitness who was injured in his leg while he was sleeping in the adjacent room of Dilnawaz, said, "I suddenly woke up from my sleep only to realise that a part of wall has fallen on my leg. I was half buried. My neighbours came out and rescued me from the spot. At least, I feel lucky that I am alive."

Asked if he knew Dilnawaz, Prasad said, "I only know that this man used to work in film industry. He also used to provide fireworks for weddings and parties. I never knew we all were living so dangerously till this accident happened. It is just unbelievable."

Another person sleeping next to Dilnawaz house was Arun Jaiswal who said he could only hear the deafening sound and debris falling on him. "I thought I had died but only later on I came to know that I was alive and had fallen unconscious. I only remember the roof falling on me before I went unconscious."

Gajanan Pawar, who was staying in front of Dilnawaz Khan's house, recollects, "I usually wake up at around 3 am in the morning. There is no water supply in our area and I go down 500 metres away to get water.  Today also I woke up early to get water and suddenly I heard a loud blast."

"I was shocked and worried about the safety of my kids.  The upper part of my house fell on my kids and me. First I extricated myself and then I rescued my family. After that I started helping other people."

Rajendra Singh Darda, Minister of State for Home (Urban), said, "The only question now arises what was he doing at 3 in the morning. I believe this is 99 per cent an accident, but we are going to find out more about this person. We are checking all the details regarding him."

Syed Firdaus Ashraf and Vijay Singh in Mumbai

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email