New Delhi: A year after the Red Fort blast tore through lives, its survivors are still trying to put the pieces back together. Some are learning to work again, others are battling fear and financial distress, while for many, their dreams are now out of reach.
My recovery is nowhere near complete,” he said, adding that the compensation of Rs 20,000 can’t make up for his losses. His brother Rajeev, who rushed to help him after the blast, said the family had exhausted its savings and still owed Rs 1.5 lakh. Avdesh has three daughters, the youngest of whom was 17 at the time of the blast. Her father said her marriage was called off, costing the family around Rs 3 lakh.
Because of the pain in his ear, now, he cannot use headphones. Kaushik has also lost much of the life he knew.
“I have only recently started going back, but it is not the same,” he said. For now, he said, “simply being able to live his life properly would be enough”. My entire life has changed,” he said. Now, even loud noises upset her, and she has become short-tempered, her father said. “As parents, it hurts to see her this way, but we understand what she has been through.”
Marriage and other plans have taken a back seat. Both his legs and face were burnt, and he continues to struggle with hearing loss and pain. The blast has left him fearful of crowded places. “It is impossible to forget what happened. Music and swimming were among his hobbies. With even water getting into it while bathing causing problems, swimming is no longer possible. “It feels as if all my hobbies have come to an end. The family may have to sell its remaining land if it cannot repay the loan. Medical expenses continue to mount, with the compensation amount hardly meeting the need, he rued. Shaina was a happy-go-lucky young woman.
Before the blast, Kaushik had begun learning content editing.