Prayer 038; relief unite city

The disaster control room at JJ Hospital is jam-packed with fruit boxes, biscuits, blankets and many other essential goods.

Deluge of offerings, more than victims need

The disaster control room at JJ Hospital is jam-packed with fruit boxes, biscuits, blankets and many other essential goods. Help is pouring in from all quarters for victims of the worst terror attack in Mumbai. Scores of people, either representing some organisation or on their own, are in their own little way generously helping the victims.

8220;A victim from CST lost all his belongings. Since he did not have any clothes he requested to be allowed to go in hospital clothes but a woman volunteered to donate him a kurta pyjama,8221; said Dr Shashi Pawar, in charge of disaster management at the hospital.

Those willing to help reached JJ Hospital even before victims. Many others are struggling to find victims, scattered in hospitals. Every half-hour, a trolley full of fresh clothes or food is wheeled to the wards. 8220;The charity commissioner8217;s office also has sent boxes of apples,8221; added Dr Pawar.

Urinals, wheelchairs, blankets, bedsheets, portable toilet seats, bedpans, clothes and protein powder are among the items donated, some anonymously. Those unaware of the exact necessity donated money. The total amount collected so far is Rs 25,000.

Political parties are not far behind either. Politicians have been seen distributing packets of dry fruits and giving fruits to victims.

8220;We cannot turn away anyone as it dampens the spirit of Mumbaikars who want to help selflessly. But it has become a practical problem for us to handle fruits, as they are perishable goods. Initially we accepted all the boxes and started giving fruits two times a day to finish the stock but now despite giving it eight times a day and also to all the patients besides terror victims we are left with surplus fruits,8221; said Dr Pawar.

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Meanwhile, the government is giving an additional Rs 1, 000 for transportation to discharged victims who are not from Mumbai.

8220;Many of us here are not from Mumbai and have lost our belongings. We had only one pair of clothes which are now blood stained rags. Many generously gave us clothes. We thank all Mumbaikars from the bottom of our hearts,8221; said Satyanand Behra, a victim recuperating in ward number 13. Behra, on his way back to Orissa, was shot at his right leg at CST station.