Two days after the Delhi High Court blast the outdoor broadcasting vans have pulled away and the full impact of the attack has begun to show on the family, friends and relatives of the victims who are undergoing treatment at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here. But now they have found solace from a rather unexpected quarter.
Sitting quietly among the relatives, holding their hands, offering water, food and guidance on how to cope with the trauma are a group of survivors of the Sarojini Nagar blast of 2005. As soon as they heard of the blast at the Delhi High Court, they rushed in to help.
While some of them had themselves survived the 2005 blast, others had lost their near and loved ones in it. And on Friday they were at RML Hospital to share the grief of the victims of another terror strike.
Vinod Poddar, who lost his son and was handicapped in the Sarojini Nagar blast, spent the entire morning at the hospital refusing to give interviews on television and opting instead to spend time with the families of the victims.
“I lost my son during the blast and my daughter who survived continues to require treatment for the burn injuries that she sustained. I know the pain that the families must be going through and the uncertainty about their future. While we can't totally prevent terror acts we can extend our healing touch to the people affected by the common enemy. Though we lost our son, God blessed us with a daughter and we have managed to pick up the threads of our lives and carry on. We are here to tell the families of the victims that no matter how tough it may be, they should not let fear set in,'' said Mr. Poddar.
Support group
“After the blast we avoid going to crowded places and I have told my wife, daughter and friends also to not do window shopping in markets. The support group that has been formed after the blast has seen us through several dark moments and we are here now to offer the same support to the families and victims of those involved in the Delhi High Court blast,'' he added.
Another member of the group, Ashok Randhawa was at the hospital offering food, water and help to the families of the victims.
“Now that the `show' is over and the media glare and political statements have been made the focus has shifted to the problems that these survivors and their families will have to face. Monetary compensation is very important and the government does its bit to help the people, but money isn't enough. After being involved in a terrorist attack people lose faith in humanity and a lot of children find it difficult to adjust back to their normal life, make new friends or even go on with life without having a fear hanging around them always,'' said Mr. Randhawa.
“Talking to people like us who have also been involved in a similar situation helps people understand that life can continue and that they aren't alone. Though we can't take away the suffering we can tell them that there is hope of living a normal life, however, fractured it maybe,'' he added.
Extending his prayers and comfort to the families of the deceased and the victims, Bhagwan Dass, who lost his son, daughter-in-law and grandson in the Sarojini Nagar blast, said: “I am too old to go to RML Hospital and help the victims but my prayers are there with them. Everyday we think about the blast and my one surviving grandchild, Manisha Michael, has been struggling to come to terms with her loss, we extend our heart felt condolence to all the victims.''
