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'I thought it was an earthquake'

Updated on: 14 July,2011 07:27 AM IST |
Varun Singh |

Says 42-year-old, who was at a friend's book store near the Dadar blast site

Says 42-year-old, who was at a friend's book store near the Dadar blast site
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AROUND 6.15 pm yesterday, Jagdish Bhatia (42) was at his friend's bookshop behind Antonio D'silva School, Dadar, when he heard a major explosion.

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"The tremors from the sound waves were of such intensity that everything in the shop was shaken, including my friend and me.
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Initially, I thought an earthquake had struck, but then I came out of the shop to see people running helter-skelter," said Bhatia.

Bhatia ran towards the spot, but it was immediately cordoned off by the police, who had reached the area within minutes.
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"I was told by another shopkeeper that the CNG tank of a taxi had exploded and the driver had been torn to pieces," he added.

The police had just begun to drive people away from the area when some political leaders reached the spot. "I saw Ramdas Athavale reaching the blast site within minutes.

These people just want to hog the limelight. When will politicos understand that they are not needed at the site of a disaster and that they merely impede rescue operations?" asked a frustrated Bhatia.

Helping hand
Mumbai's famed spirit came into play again yesterday with Mumbaikars posting their addresses and phone numbers on social networking sites. My office is in Matunga West, Mogul Lane, next to Magnet Hypermarket. Anyone stuck and in need of help can drop by, wrote Mithun on Twitter.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels