Journalism of Courage
The vendors have a hard time in erasing the memories of that devastating Saturday
They were witness to the blast that not only blew the German Bakery and a few of its fateful customers to pieces,but also questioned the citys claim of being a peaceful paradise. The vendors at the main road of Koregaon Park,who were among the first ones to help the victims,find it difficult to re-narrate the incident.
Recalling the incident,Ravindra Vasant Albela,who owns a chappal shop near the Osho International Meditation Resort,says,It was a sight that I will never forget. I saw bodies of people that was followed by the cries of those injured. However,when I saw the injured ones coming out matted with blood on their mutilated body,I overcame my fears and ran to help them. I helped the injured ones get into the rickshaws and sent them to the hospitals,while others were trying to get people out. I feel bad to be a witness to the first terror attack in the city.
Albelan says that while the terrible incident is etched on the hearts and minds of every Puneite,people who witnessed the dreadful event,will never be able to sleep soundly.
Pramod Acharya,a florist,who owns a flower shop bang opposite the German Bakery,says,I did not lose anybody in the blast,but could not eat or sleep for days after seeing body parts scattered on the road. The sight was gory enough to sent people in shock and stop them from thinking or reacting. But thankfully,we could come to our senses in time. My first reaction was to block the road,to avoid people or speeding vehicles from coming to the spot,as we were sacred that there might be another blast as well. Then I rushed to help the injured ones by making them lie down on the pavement,giving them water and attending to them. I remember,after seeing three parts of one body lying in a pool of blood,I did tremble for a moment,but the cries of injured helped me come out of that state and attend them first.
Acharyas friend,Sagar Gaikwad too joined him in helping the injured ones and sending them to nearby hospitals in rickshaws. I was running to get auto and help from other people,who had vehicles and could carry the victims.
While others helped the injured,Bhavesh Chowdhary,who works at Krishna Medicare,a nearby shop,was busy looking for survivors amongst those dead. I gave water to one of the injured and he died in my lap. I will never forget this. Gokul,the waiter of the bakery who died,was one of our regular customers. I lifted dead bodies and injured ones to take them to the ambulance, he says in a choked voice.
Gory details attract sympathy,but not justice,which is the need of the hour,both for the victims family and also for the city,say all the vendors unanimously.
