Night has become the worst enemy for 22-year-old Mohan Reddy, a chemical engineering student who received severe injuries in the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts. Whenever he tries to sleep, an unbearable shooting pain starts from his right foot and travels up to the thigh.
He does not want to disturb his sister, who is asleep in the adjoining room, by asking for help. “I simply grit my teeth and brace myself to face the pain. Sometimes, I read “Hanuman Chalisa” and on good days the pain subsides. On bad days, however, the pain just refuses to leave,” he says.
A B.Tech student of Dr. B.V. Raju Institute of Technology (BVRIT), Narsapur, Mohan plans to go back to his native Devarakonda after getting discharged from the hospital.
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“Leave alone travel, I can’t even stand without help. Both my ears are infected, and I am yet to regain my hearing. My sister has her children and family to take care, so I can’t pester her frequently. She is allowing me to stay with her family, and that’s more than enough,” he says.
Like Mohan, there are several blast victims, who are struggling to return to normal lives. “I underwent three surgeries, and it will take another one month for me to fully recover. The government has so far not announced any long-term plan to rehabilitate or provide counselling for victims like us,” says Mohammad Abdul Samad, a blast victim from Karimnagar.
Mr. Samad underwent multiple surgeries in the abdomen and right hip. “I am trying to locate a local doctor for regular medical advice, because I can’t travel to Hyderabad frequently,” he adds. There are several blast victims who have been discharged but do not have any clear picture on the follow-up.
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Madhusudhan Reddy (52), another victim, says that the costs of medical bills after his discharge from the hospital will wreak havoc on his finances.
“My daughter is in the final-year of B.Tech, and I had made plans for her higher education. However, now, I am spending for costly medicines and other medical requirements from my pocket. The authorities have not assured us of a long-term medical assistance. Eventually, I may lose my private job, because I can’t afford to take leave for a long time,” fears Mr. Reddy, who lives at Saroornagar.
Purchasing drugs and getting frequent medical assistance are a big problem. Also, roping in a personal nurse is among the many challenges facing the blast victims. “Please provide us medicines, because my friend is in a lot of pain. We are purchasing medicines and spending money for consultation with local doctors,” says Sai Kumar, a friend of Mallikarjun, another blast victim from Adilabad.