Click to play videoMumbai: Two years have passed since the July 11 serial train blasts in Mumbai took the lives of 188 people but many of those injured are still struggling with life.
The serial train bombings altered Namdeo Radye's life. An aspiring fashion designer, Namdeo can now barely use his right hand.
He was on a Virar-bound local train when the blast at Borivli left him with a severely damaged right arm, without an index finger and loss of hearing in the left ear. Namdeo has had nine surgeries so far.
A railways job was offered to him this February. Namdeo, who now works as a peon at the Mahalaxmi Railway Office, says he stills fears crowds.
He is also learning to deal with the financial crunch that came along with the disaster.
"Woh salary alag thi, yeh alag hai. Sab cheez mein katauti karni padti hai," ("That salary was something else, this is something else. I have to compromise on everything,") he says.
However, he says that his strength is his family. His wife Neeta and their teenage son accompany him to every hearing at the State Human Rights Commission.
Allwin D'Cunha another victim is fighting for financial compensation. Neither the 188 dead nor the 714 injured in the blasts have received compensation from the Maharashtra government.
Allwin says, "We're victims of a system. Such politics happen with the common man in India."
Allwin has spent Rs 5 lakh rupees on his surgeries and has had support from his employers. He gets a big concession from office and also gets to leave by lunchtime to avoid rush hour.
For both these men, learning to cope with their physical disabilities has been a major challenge in their efforts to lead normal lives.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
 |
 |
 |
|
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.