Rajaram Chavan
Worker in a diamond firm
Chavan was waiting for his train at Platform No. 2 at Borivali station when rakes from the exploding trains flew from Platform No. 4 and hit his left leg. At the time, he tried calling his family with his cell phone, but couldn’t get through. He could have thrown away the bitter reminder of that day, but continues to hold on to it. Why? Because he isn’t scared.
“I know the blast will not happen again. I am not afraid of keeping the same phone with me.”

Rishab Pathak
HR consultant
When people came to enquire about Pathak’s wellbeing, they heard the story of his survival and saw the blood-stained shirt he had worn on the day. It was this thick shirt that prevented serious injury from the flying shrapnel. Pathak was returning home with his friend from the Marine Lines station when the blast in the first class compartment between Bandra and Khar injured him. Today, he can’t even bear to watch a blast related film. Yet, he retains the torn shirt.
“I always read about blasts in Jammu & Kashmir and never thought it would happen to me. Now I can relate to these people’s pain.”

Ronnie D’Silva
Senior logistics
manager, Unimark
Remedies Ltd
D’Silva recalls a thunderous explosion that fractured his right arm and made him dizzy as he hung from a local train at Jogeshwari. When he came to, he found himself at the platform minutes after the 7/11 carnage had begun. A year later, the railway pass that he carried that day is the only belonging that connects him to the incident.
“Whenever I see the pass, I feel I am the luckiest person, blessed by God, who saved my life. I try not to think of the gory incident.”

... contd.