The Hindu Business Line : `It felt like large stones were pelting down on the train roof'

Ms Usha Nair, an Office Assistant in Business Line here, was on the train in which the first blast went off. She gives her account of her experience:

On Monday, I took the 5.57-p.m. suburban local train home after work. This is the train that I take every day from Churchgate where our office is. It goes to Virar 60 km away, I would have normally got off the train at Vasai Road station, 52 km from Churchgate, to get home.

Suddenly, after the train left Dadar, the most crowded suburban station in the city, there was a huge noise. I felt that large stones were pelting down on the roof of the train. I could smell smoke too. The train was still moving and all of us on the train were wondering whether it would be better to jump off the train or remain where we were. Several hands pulled at the emergency chains.

When the train finally stopped we learned what had happened. A bomb had gone off in the men's first class compartment, which was about six or seven bogies ahead of ours.

Since the train had not stopped at a platform, getting off the train meant a five-to-six-foot jump to the ground below. People were very helpful; several men came forward to help women down from the compartment. We crossed the rails to head out to the roads.

We could not see ahead since the affected compartment had already been shielded from view. But whatever bags and things that must have belonged to the commuters in there were scattered everywhere, the sides of that compartment were ripped out like an opened tin can.

We were ordered to move out of the track area since no one knew whether there were more bombs on the train. We came out to the road, people were frantically making calls on their cellphones or rushing to public booths and shops but none were working. I somehow managed to call the office to tell them I would return.

Trucks, buses and vehicles filled with people who headed out to the nearest locality where they could put up with friends or relatives. I was still about 40 km from home and it seemed pointless to head there. Some of us who lived in the same area thought it would be better to head to south Mumbai, still an accessible 10 km away, a walkable distance should we not get a taxi.

Taxis would not stop, but passersby were helpful. There were some who had taken charge as volunteers. They prevailed upon a taxi-driver to stop for us. It was an easy ride back to office. I was still trembling with the shock of the whole thing.

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