I’m really sorry if I sound disoriented today, but I’m a mess… I am only grateful and thankful that I am alive today. I had a really awful experience yesterday evening.  

The days started off pretty normal. I left office around 5:35 p.m. When I reached the station, the next train to come was the 5:54 pm fast local to Borivli. This was unusually early and I comfortably got a seat with not much effort. We left from Churchgate station on the dot, and were making good time. To understand things a little better, let me draw a diagram of the stations on the Western Railway.  

(| A Borivli fast train does not stop here)

Churchgate

Marine Lines
Charni Road

Grant Road

Bombay Central

|Mahalakshmi

|Lower Parel

|Elphinstone

Dadar

|Matunga

|Mahim

Bandra

|Khar

|Santa Cruz

|Vile Parle

Andheri

Jogeshwari

Goregaon

Malad

Kandivli

Borivli

Dahisar        Within Municipal limits of Greater Mumbai (BMC)
Mira Road     Outside Municipal limits of Mumbai – Thane      Bhayandar

Navagaon

Vasai

Nallasopara

Virar  I was in the train which had the blast at Mahim station. I was in the bogie (ladies 1^st class) just adjoining the 1^st class (General – Males & Females can travel. In peak hrs only males travel) which blew up. We was a bit slow as we were passing through Mahim station (our train does not stop here). Our compartment were clearing the platform, when we heard a huge deafening blast. Almost immediately 2 things happened. Black smoke started entering our compartment & the train came to a halt. Our bogies had already cleared the platform. Women started screaming. We thought there was a fire on the train and everyone rushed for the exits. There were several elderly ladies ahead of me, who could not jump. They had to sit on the foot board and get down. The women behind were shouting “Jump”. The smoke entering our compartment, made many think that the neighbouring boogie was on fire, so all were in a hurry to get out before our compartment caught fire as well. I knew I could not jump until I reached the exit. As soon as I did, I just jumped without thinking. I got out on the side facing the platform, as I did not want to be at risk of another passing train on the other side. I jumped down smoothly, but was completely stunned when I saw the devastation before me. My hands are still shivering as I type this. I am unable to express my thoughts, my feelings, my horror. I saw dead men dangling from a completely ripped open compartment. My heart stopped. Men before me were covered in blood. Some could not hear, some were covered in soot, some rushed back in to see if they could get out those who were breathing and could be saved. All this time there was neither sign of the police nor railway security/personnel. The cell phone network was jammed.  

Luckily I knew that Ralph was not traveling that day by train. Caitlyn had been playing with his wallet the previous day, so he had taken out the pass for safe keeping. He had forgotten to put it back in. That day before leaving he had told me he would be traveling by bus, so I knew he could not be on any train. There was no way to get in touch with him. I managed a single sentence at one point, so he knew there was a bomb blast im my train & that I was alive. I managed to get my younger sister in
Goa, Sarita. I told her I was  okay and to try to get in touch with Ralph 7 the baby sitter. But she had no luck.   

We finally ended up walking from Mahim to Bandra. A trio of us headed to Borivli in an autorickshaw. We finally reached home by10:00pm or so.  

I do not think I will ever be over the horror of what I saw. I still feel like crying everytime I think of it. This morning I left a little late for work. I did not feel anything when I left home. But once I was on my way to the station, I could not stop trembling. I reached the station. I kept praising and thanking
Goa, and resolutely walked to the ladies 1^st class compartment. I was determined to go to work. If not today, I would have to do it tomorrow… I entered the train & it started. My Rosary never left my hands. I said my normal 2 rosaries, the Divine Mercy Chaplet. But everytime I received a call I would start crying. I am okay now that I have reached office. I only pray and hope my journey home will be as uneventful. Please keep me in your prayers…