‘I saw people looting the mutilated bodies,’ says 13/7 victim Avdhesh Singh

(An eye witness narration of the Kalbadevi blasts in Mumbai to mediaeye)

It was all blood and raw human flesh splattered around. The gory tale of human vengeance and the extent this can produce havoc and destruction was mind-boggling. 13/7/2011 was a nightmare for me and will remain forever etched in my memory, said Avdhesh Singh of Uttar Pradesh, a diamond cutter who works in Khau Galli-based diamond firm.

Short and frail Avdhesh’s work belied his physique and startled many those who remained mere spectators. ‘Almost 500 people had gathered there, but none helped the victims, who were lying in almost physically mutilated state,’ he lamented.  

‘I too was injured on 13/7 and suffered a minor injury as metallic shards and nut-bolts from the explosives ripped off the flesh of my lower leg. Though the wound was not so deep, but I was still bleeding profusely. The smoke and dust had made the visibility almost negligible. Stench filled my nostrils. People were speechless, staring around with shock and disbelief.’ he reminisced giving graphic details of the tragic happening.

At a horrendous moment like this people normally loses their sense, but Avdhesh, despite being injured, was very well alert and agile. ‘I immediately rushed to the Saifee hospital which is a couple of furlongs away from Khau Galli where the tragedy occured, to get first aid.’ Any other mortal would have fled from the scene but Avdhesh returned back after receiving dressing to help the other blast victims.

‘It was heart rending to find injured people wailing and moaning all around with trauma. The limbless bodies and the blood stained faces of people still weakens my confidence whenever I remember the traumatic incident. But I gathered courage and despite the stabbing pain on my leg I along with one more person who came to assist me started carrying the injured, blood soaked bodies to the Saifee and JJ hospitals,’ he added. Due to this timely intervention many precious lives were saved.

‘Police, ambulance and fire tenders reached much later. Meanwhile, what I saw there was the most awful thing and extremely inhuman. A bunch of people collecting the valuables watches, wallets, mobiles and jewelleries from the mutilated bodies,’ he said.

Avdhesh was skeptic of the government’s lukewarm approach and official lethargy. ‘Leaders crammed the place only to make things difficult for people attending to injured there,’ he continued.