Mumbai Blasts: Victim says he was in a daze like a madman

Harish Mahesh Hassija, 22, who sells imitation jewellery, had just stepped out of Khau Galli after a meeting when, “I saw some people playing with kerosene. Soon after, I heard a blast,” he said.

A Goregaon resident, Hassija has suffered extensive burns on his face, hands, legs, and back. “For about 20 seconds, I couldn’t see anything. I thought it was a cylinder blast. My clothes were torn. I started asking people about a hospital. They thought I was mad,” he said.

According to Hassija, the people around did not help him. “I asked a policeman to take me to any hospital. He stopped a cab and told the driver to take me to GT hospital. My uncle called me and I told him to come to GT,” he said.

At GT Hospital, there were too many patients. “I felt if I waited there any longer, it will be too late. I was losing blood. My uncle was pleading with the doctors to treat me,” he said. While he was at GT hospital, he also realised there was a big piece of iron in his back.
“The doctors removed the shrapnel and I was then sent to Saifee hospital,” said Hassija.

Hassija’s photograph was published in several newspapers, including DNA. In these, he was seen sitting in a wheelchair, being taken out of GT hospital.

At Saifee hospital, he was operated upon to remove the shrapnel from his body. “The doctors have told me that he will be in hospital for another five days,” said his uncle, Shambu.