‘After searching several hospitals, found him here at 1 am’: Anxious families keep vigil at Lok Nayak for word on their loved ones

A short distance away stood dozens of people, anxious and exhausted. They waited, sometimes in silence, sometimes arguing with the guards for a glimpse of the injured admitted inside.

Among them was Rupa, her eyes red from fatigue. Her father-in-law, Vinay Pathak (65) had gone to Chandni Chowk on Monday evening to buy CCTV cameras. “When we heard the news, my brother-in-law tried calling him, but we couldn’t reach his phone,” she said. “After searching several hospitals, we finally found him here at 1 am. He was operated on for 7-8 hours but hasn’t regained consciousness.”

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Rupa’s brother tried to comfort her as she whispered updates about her father-in-law’s fluctuating blood pressure.

Also in the crowd were several sporting bandages, hoping they would be let inside the ward for treatment. Many of them were workers and vendors who had finished their day’s work when the blast struck.

Bijender Yadav (55), a water-pouch seller, sported a bandaged forehead tinged yellow from medicine, another bandage on his chin, and a third wrapped around his wrist, still stained with dried blood. Next to him were Ram Prakash Das (55), a chole-kulche vendor, and Udit (32), who runs a ragda-kachori cart.

They had first gone to a private hospital for basic marham-patti (dressing). “We came here because we thought treatment would be better and free but they won’t even let us in,” he claimed, as he argued with guards for access.

Das said he still had no idea what had happened. “Kaise hua, kya hua, kuch samajh nahi aaya — ek awaaz aayi, phir kuch samajh nahi aaya (I couldn’t understand what happened or how — there was a loud sound, and then I couldn’t make sense of anything).”

The trio’s frustration grew as they were repeatedly told to move away. “Aage jao, aage jao (move ahead, move ahead),” Das mimicked the guards, “Kitna aage jaayein? (Where should we move)?” Eventually, they walked out.

Yadav said, “Yesterday we spent Rs 500 on dressing. We don’t even know where our carts are. When our families called, we lied, said we were fine and still working so they don’t worry.”

Not far from them stood Mohammad Sher (50), with his younger son Taufeeq. He had been waiting since midnight to see his elder son, Shaqeer, a cab driver. “Around 11.30 pm yesterday, we got a call from the insurance company saying his car was charred and he was admitted here. We’ve been roaming these corridors ever since.”

At 11 am today, Sher received a call from an unknown number. “It was him (my son). He said his eyebrows and eyelids were burnt, and his leg was bruised.” His relief was tempered with disbelief that Shaqeer had survived by breaking the car window and jumping out.

Nearby, Rizwan, from Bijnor, stood with two men. Their friend, Azad, has been missing since the blast. “His wife called me, crying. We searched his room. He wasn’t there. I feared the worst… We came to the hospital but still aren’t allowed inside. I don’t know what to tell his wife.”

Nitin (28) sat on a bench but got up repeatedly to check the emergency ward. His brother-in-law, Shiva Jaiswal (36), had gone to Chandni Chowk to buy supplies for his garments business. “We haven’t met him yet but his entire back is burnt, his nose broken,” he said.

In Daryaganj, the family of Mohammad Farooq (55) were desperate to meet him. Farooq lives with his parents, wife and daughter, who is in her early 20s, and runs an AC repair shop from his home.

His nephew, Aamir, who is looking after the shop in his absence, said, “He was coming back from Kashmere Gate on his scooter when the blast occurred. We got to know when he came home shaken and in complete shock. It was only after we saw him bleeding from his feet that we rushed him to the hospital.”

The family said he told them that when the blast occurred, he left the keys in the scooter and ran towards the Metro station. “He managed to catch a rickshaw and reach home,” said Aamir.

The family is worried as he has heart issues and is diabetic. “His wife has not eaten and just wants to know how he is. We went to the hospital but couldn’t meet him… so we came back,” Aamir added.