'The spot where I was standing had disintegrated'

It was the fragrance of fresh jasmines that drew Kiran Attaluri away from the bus stop near Venkatadri theatre in Dilsukhnagar on Thursday. It also saved her life. The first blast knocked her off her feet and even before she realized what had happened, she heard the second explosion.

"Everyone around me was on the ground. Then I heard screams. I stood up and realized that the spot where I was standing just a few minutes ago appeared to have disintegrated. There was smoke and fire and pieces of metal everywhere. Everything looked red there," said Attaluri, who is learning SAP at an institute close by.

"It took me a moment to realize it was blood and the strange looking things nearby were pieces of body parts. Just a few minutes ago, I had been standing where the blast occurred . I love jasmines and as the bus appeared to be late, I came towards the flower carts. I was bargaining with the vendor when this explosion occurred and I felt as if something pushed me with a great force. When I came to my senses I was on the ground," she said.

Although she was able to find an autorickshaw willing to take her to her house in Chaitanyapuri, Attaluri and her friend, who works with Deccan Grameena Bank, decided to stay back and help paramedical staff who arrived in ambulances.

"I offered to donate blood but they said they had arrangements in the hospitals and asked us to keep away as there could be more bombs nearby," said Attaluri, who lost her bag in the melee. She estimates that more than 500 students must have been standing at the eateries, tea stalls and the bus stop between the two theatres where the blasts occurred.

Chittibabu, an employee of Sri Sai Super Specialty Hospital, said he was walking towards the bus stop between Venkatadri and Konark theatres when he heard a loud explosion.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Janampatri to genomepatri, the leap forward in predicting future

Despite fast-track courts, rape conviction rate still low

Lanka strikes back, wants to partner IOC in oil tanks pact

Party support on track, Bansal, Ashwani to stay