Hyderabad: Nine years have passed after blasts rocked the Gokul Chat eatery, but the families of those who had lost their lives in the blast are still awaiting the compensation promised by the state government. In the twin bombings that hit Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park on August 25 in 2007, as many as 42 people had been killed and over 50 people injured.
One of the victims was Pratyusha, an engineering graduate who was planning to go abroad for her higher studies. “My daughter aimed at pursuing her masters in the US, but the blast shattered her dreams and our hopes. Leaders poured in at our home after the blast and promised many things,” the deceased’s father Narsimha Sharma said.
Pratyusha was the elder daughter of J. Narsimha Sharma, a lecturer. She was studying computer engineering at Netaji Engineering College and preparing to travel abroad for a Masters.
On that fateful day, Pratyusha along with her cousin Vyshnavi went to Koti to purchase GRE material for her preparations. Then, they went to Gokul Chat for refreshment.
Pratyusha died in the blast while Vyshnavi escaped with injuries. Narsimha said the government sanctioned a Rs 5 lakh compensation for Pratyusha, but there was no word about the health cards and the houses promised for the victims in the Rajiv Swagruha Scheme.
“One of the victims’ brother was given a job in the police department. And fo-ur months ago, as per a minister’s recommendation, the chief minister sanctioned another '10 lakh to their family. While people like us are struggling, a few of the affected families are taken care of as well,” he said.
Another victim, 55-year-old Mohammed Rahim Khan, a resident of Dilsukhnagar who lost his left eye in the blast, said he got a part of the promised compensation. He however had to spend double of that amount for his treatment. “With all the savings spent on my treatment, it has become difficult for me to get my daughter married,” he said.
