Train to hope

Of all the trains pulling into Bandra Terminus today morning, this one was different. Even at 5.40 am, it was difficult to sheath the excite...

2 min readOct 6, 2002 12:00 AM IST First published on: Oct 6, 2002 at 12:00 AM IST

Of all the trains pulling into Bandra Terminus today morning, this one was different. Even at 5.40 am, it was difficult to sheath the excitement spilling out of Saurashtra Mail.

Or the hope shining in the eyes of 60 children travelling on it, victims of the recent riots in Gujarat on their way to Raigad to rebuild their lives.

As they stepped out into the platform, chocolates and smiles greeted them. Seven-year-old Shafiq’s swollen left hand told his story of horror, while an operation hasn’t healed the injury in 12-year-old Javed’s eye. Six-year-old Husain quietly stands by his uncle. Asked about his parents, all he says is: ‘‘Mar gaye.’’