Explosion in Meerut shattered her life

MEERUT: The devastating explosion inMeerut has left Sofia Khatoon shattered. Having lost her two sons in the deadlyblast, she is now feverishly praying that her only hope, Sakman Ali, her thirdson, lives to tell the travails. "I have already lost my two sons.Somebody save my third son. My children are my only life. I have neither moneynor status. They are my only asset,'' says an inconsolable Sofia, the mother ofblast victims Saidul Ali and Sobia Ali. In the Bengali Basti wherethe artillery cell exploded killing five, Sofia had come with her family 3-yearsback from Assam hoping for a better life for her kids. But, now she standsdevastated. "I have lost two sons and another is fighting for his life. We arevery poor people. Children are our only harbinger of hope. Though he was notworking today, Sobia went out today to earn some extra bucks but his searchended in tragedy,'' she sobs.In a critical state, her third son,Sakman Ali, says: "On Saturday afternoon, Sobia suggested that we should go andsearch for some scrap to make extra money. So, we went to Army cantonment areaand were searching the drains, when Sobia saw a silver thing. We took it out andbrought it home. Without informing our parents, we tried breaking it, butfailed. So one of my friends brought a hammer. When Sobia was trying to breakit, the matter exploded.''Most of the victims are fighting death atLala Lajpat Rai Medical College Hospital and Pyarelal Sharma District Hospital.Another victim, 10-year-old Aamin Ali, is fighting odds. "While his pelvic areais completely damaged and right leg is amputated, his left leg is fractured. Hehas also faced severe head injuries,'' a doctor said.His shockedmother Asha says: "Aamin who was not even aware of it. He was playing outsidehis jhuggi, when the blast happened. My son is innocent. Before leaving thehouse, he told me that he is going out to play. After about half-an-hour, when Iheard a loud noise, I rushed out looking for my son. And found him bleeding. Hewas rushed to the hospital immediately. Doctors say he won't be able to lead anormal life now. He is my only son, if something will happen to him, my lifewill come to an end.''