J-K blast: 14-yr-old victim’s brother can still hear him

PRADEEP DUTTA

JAMMU, JANUARY 18: When Jagriti Niketan School vice-principal Brij Mohan Sharma declared the day as a holiday, the smile that such announcements normally bring to the faces of the students was missing.

The children had lost their friend Rahul Gupta, a 14-year-old class VIII student, who fell victim to the explosion in Kanak Mandi last evening. The scene at the Dewan Mandir Park outside Rahul’s house was almost similar. The playground was quiet. The youngsters, instead of holding cricket kits, were outside Rahul’s house in Kalli Jani lane.

Yesterday, Rahul left home with a friend, never to return. His elder brother Vishal said last evening Rahul was standing outside his house when his friend Amit came on a scooter and took him along to Pacca Danga for taking some money the traders owed to them.

Rahul’s body lay unclaimed in the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital. Though his mother heard about the blast, she hardly thought her son would be the lone victim. It was through documents recovered from Amit’s scooter parked near the blast site that police informed his family.

Eye-witnesses said Amit, with Rahul sitting on back seat, had just parked the scooter when the explosion occurred, killing Rahul on the spot. Amit sustained serious injuries and is fighting for life at the ICU of GMC.

Rahul’s father Bodh Raj could not believe it. ‘‘I told my wife there is no reason for Rahul to be at the blast site,’’ he said. But Nirmala’s apprehensions proved true when he saw his son’s body lying on the hospital floor. Hours later, the father is still in a state of shock.

After Rahul’s cremation, Vishal sat in the corner of their living room, his face blank. His aunt said since the accident, Vishal has not entered the room he shared with his brother. ‘‘He says every time he hears the sound of a ball hitting a wall, he is reminded of Rahul playing inside the room,’’ said his aunt.