The earth shook, electricity fluctuated: Witness

MOHALI: It happened on Wednesdaynight. Just when Simrata Kaur, a resident of Phase II, was engrossed in herdaily soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, the earth of her home shook. Thewindows rattled, the electricity fluctuated, the air conditioner almost came outof the window. Thinking it to be an indicator of a pre-monsoon storm, shestepped out in the balcony to check up on her plants.What she sawoutside will always remain with her. ‘‘There was smoke everywhereand I saw a red ball of fire reaching up. I thought that the Phase IV rehrimarket had caught fire. I was really scared,’’ shudders a stillshaken Simrata who, like many other residents of Mohali, will take time to cometo terms with the Ranbaxy fire accident.Mayank Suri, a Phase IVresident, thought a jet had crashed in his backyard. ‘‘The explosionwas thunderous. I thought it was a plane crash or a bomb blast,’’ hesaid. Mayank, a businessman, admits to getting the panic jitters.