Jodhpur : Mehrangarh tragedy completed 16 years on Monday. Even today people are haunted by memories of that day of Shardiya Navratri on 30 September 2008. The noise, outcry and crying sobs created in the Chamunda temple complex of Mehrangarh in the early hours of the morning echo in the minds of those mothers, sisters and family members. On October 2, 2008, the state government constituted the Chopra Commission for judicial inquiry to investigate the tragedy. Commission Chairman Justice Jasraj Chopra had submitted his investigation report to the then government on May 11, 2011, two and a half years after the tragedy. Since then this report has not been made public. The magazine spoke to some families.
Parents’ throats filled with pain
69 year old Manaram Kadela choked on hearing the name of his son Gyan Chand. Even today, he remembers his 24 year old son Gyan Chand and keeps a stone in his heart. In the last 15 years, every time 30th September comes, our faces turn pale. Mother Omadevi is also less able to see now. The grief of his son even gave him asthma. Crying, she tells that he was selected as a teacher and he had gone to worship the head of Mother Chamunda, but did not return.
Now the memory of the son will disappear with his death.
Suresh Chavda, his 60-year-old father, who lost his 18-year-old son Kamlesh in the Mehrangarh accident in Jodhpur, says that now only when we leave, his son’s memory will go with him. When 30th September comes, we husbands and wives are unable to do anything except cursing this day. Our son was good in studies. That year he had to appear for the 10th class examination. He used to work along with studies. Now only his memories remain in our minds. Mother often cries secretly remembering him. I won’t be able to tell you anything more than this.
Mother suffered mental problems due to father’s grief.
6-year-old Ashok Gehlot, who lost his father Kailash Gehlot in an accident 16 years ago, is now 22 years old. They say that after the death of the father in the accident, the mother suffered from mental problems. Who are still suffering from the same problem. Ashok tells that he was brought up by his grandfather. When his father died, he also had a younger sister and another sister was born 25 days after his father’s death. All three of us were brought up by our grandfather.
