Twice (un)lucky: Injured in Mecca Masjid and Dilsukhnagar blasts, he survived both

Shayeed Mirza and his family have been lamenting their misfortune since Thursday night. Mirza's eldest son Abdul, who was seriously injured in the May 2007 blast at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, was caught in the blasts in Dilsukhnagar, and has again suffered grave injuries.

He was operated upon at the Yashoda Hospital late on Thursday, and is now out of danger. But his injuries near the spinal cord could affect him for life, doctors fear.

Abdul was an 18-year-old student when he had gone to the Mecca mosque to pray in May 2007. "At that time, he suffered shrapnel injuries in his abdomen, thighs and face. While trying to run, he fell and fractured his left leg. It took him nearly six months to recover," Abdul's cousin Firoz Khan said.

"Small pieces of metal, which were embedded in his legs could not be removed, and he used to suffer constant bouts of pain . He had two major and two minor surgeries. He dropped out of college and remained unemployed for several years. Seven months ago, he started work as a salesman at a footwear shop near Konark theatre in Dilsukhnagar," Khan said.

A resident of Kalapathar in the old city, Abdul had gone to work after 11 am on Thursday. "When news of the blast flashed on TV, I got worried because one blast took place near Konark theatre where my son works, and I said a silent prayer. I was about to call him when I received a call from someone saying that he was injured and was being rushed to Yashoda Hospital," Mirza said.

"I think my son was conscious at that time and gave my number to the person who called me. When I reached the hospital, he was unconscious and was being taken for surgery. I was in shock because five years ago, I saw him in the same condition, bloodied and unconscious and being taken away into an operation theatre, and not knowing whether he will come out alive or not. How unlucky and unfortunate can a person be?" the distraught father asked.

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