Friday, October 9, 2009

Traumatic scenes witnessed at LRH

PESHAWAR: The emergency ward of the Lady Reading Hospital was the scene of human tragedy on Friday as people mourned the death of their near and dear ones in the suicide blast and were searching for their kin amid screams of the injured writhing in agony.

As many as 49 people were killed and over 100 injured when a suicide car bomb ripped through Soekarno Chowk. It was the second suicide attack in provincial metropolis in the fortnight, in which civilians were targeted.

A large number of people gathered at the emergency ward of the busiest tertiary care hospital of the province. Sobbing women and men could be seen moving in chaos as many did not know the fate of their loved ones. Several wounded brought to the hospital in critical condition succumbed to injuries.

Though the number of the injured was huge, the doctors and paramedical staff were devotedly treating the injured and worked hard. They have been very busy for the last two years due to frequent bomb blasts in Peshawar and other cities of the province.

Wearing no shoes and chaddar, a middle-aged woman was desperately searching for her son in various wards of the hospital. She was crying and repeatedly saying “wai zama Tariq sa sho” (oh! where is my Tariq). Her son, who belonged to Michni area of Peshawar, was a vendor who used to sell beans at the Soekarno Chowk.

Another person was mourning the death of his brother, who was the driver of the ill-fated mini-bus that was reduced to twisted irons in the incident. “I used to drive the bus but today my brother replaced me,” he said. Cursing the perpetrators of the blast, he said in choked voice that may these terrorists face the same fate. The conductor of the bus also died in the blast, he cried.

Raheem Zada, an elderly man, weeping on the death of his son and two nephews, said most of his family boys were daily wagers and used to come in search of work to Soekarno Chowk. He said all the three were having little kids. “What kind of Islam is this? Can any Muslim kill people in such a brutal manner?” he questioned.

The most heartrending scene was that of a five-year old Amna, killed in the blast and lying in the arms of her injured father at a hospital bed. The unfortunate Afghan family of Badaber was going by the bus to attend a marriage ceremony of a relative in Haripur. Instead of celebrating the marriage, the couple was mourning the death of the minor.

People in the emergency ward could not stop crying when they saw body of the innocent girl wearing bangles, with her hands adorned with Henna. With tears rolling down her face, the unlucky mother, Zarin Bibi who was standing beside the bed, said, “May God destroy their (terrorists’) own homes as they have unleashed barbarity on us.” She lost her daughter while two of her sons and husband were injured in the blast.

Naseebullah, 30, hailing from Timergara in Lower Dir, was hit by shrapnel on his right cheek. Talking to The News, Naseeb said that after collecting his passport, he went to Khyber Bazaar for shopping. He said there was rush at the time of the blast, adding that soon after the incident the entire area was covered with a cloud of dust, rendering people unable to see anything. He said as the dust settled, he saw bodies lying scattered at the scene, while the injured were crying for help. After the incident, the city was gripped by a wave of fear, grief and despondency. The traders association of Khyber Bazaar announced a three-day mourning.

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