Friday, July 11, marked the second anniversary in India of the serial bomb blast on Mumbai's Suburban Western Railway Trains, in which 186 people were killed and more than 500 injured.

Amit Singh, a final year student of the commerce stream, was traveling on one of the ill-fated trains and became a victim of the terrorist attack. For the past two years he has languished in a hospital in Mumbai in a semi-comatose state.

At the time of the blasts, Amit was on a visit to his uncle's place in Mira Road. He boarded the Virar train from Andheri after picking up an admission form for post-graduate study at one of the institutions in Vile Parle.

In the aftermath of the blasts, Amit lay on the footbridge of Mira Road Station completely soaked with blood. He called up his dad from a stranger's cell phone and said that he was hit by some impact and that he was bleeding profusely from a head injury. He added that in this condition he would not be able to visit his uncle's home. His dad told him that he would come to him at once.

By the time his dad reached the Mira Road Station there was no sign of Amit anywhere. On inquiry, his dad was told that most of the dead and injured were taken to the nearby hospital.

News of serial bomb blast and the images of the injured lying blood soaked on the railway platform were beamed live on television. Mumbai was in utter chaos with cell phones and telephones jammed and the roads caught up in long traffic snarl. Panic and confusion set in among the people, as they were unable to call up their loved ones to find out about their safety.

After combing each and every hospital in Mira Road, Amit's father finally located his son lying unconscious in a hospital bed. A stranger sitting next to him was claiming that he was his brother. Amit's wallet was found in his trousers and his identity card helped the father claim his son. Later, Amit was admitted to Jaslok Hospital.

Amit suffered a deep wound on the side of his head. His brain developed swelling and puss oozed out from the stitches. As a result, he had to undergo a number of surgeries. The doctors have not been able to bring Amit out of his comatose condition. He remains in a vegetative state, with little sign of recovery. In fact, the doctors have given up any hope of recovery.

His parents are perplexed. If he had been able talk to them on phone, why could he not do so now? They call to him, cajole him and shake him but Amit remains unresponsive and motionless.

The railway has borne all the expense so far running to 40,00,000 rupees (approx. US$93,500). Amit needs personal care and nursing around the clock. His father, mother and elder brother take turns to stay with Amit. They live at a far off distant place in Virar and undertake a daily one and a half hour long grueling train journey, facing the commuters who shove and push during peak hours, to reach the hospital. So far, they have received a mere 50,000 rupees as compensation from the government.

Amit's parent hail from a middle class family and have few resources with which to bear the expense of his medicines, not to mention the nurse they'll need if he is shifted home.

In the face of this grave tragedy, Amit's parents have put up brave faces, hoping against hope, and having faith in God that one day Amit will wake from his coma and call out to them

                                                                                                                                                                                      -  Rajen Nair

                                                                                                                                     (Published article)