Hyderabad hero: Chaatwala loses livelihood, saves lives

BLAST HERO: Even as he witnessed the horror around him, Vijayvergiya didn't let the fear numb his mind.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Budget and you: How policies impact your life | Secrecy Cordon around the Budget 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Varun fears threat to life; Maneka slams Govt 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• CPI-M Central Committee to act to curb Kerala infights 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief | Pay Tribute 

• British Islamic group plans coup in Pakistan: report 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• Shiney denies he had sex with domestic help 

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Bollywood stars sizzle at the IIFA fiesta 

• IBNFocus: TDS process simplified 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• Watch: Parties react to HC judgement on gays 

• Railways fail to provide basic facilities to passengers 

• Michael Jackson to be buried without his brain 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• Shiney denies he had sex with domestic help 

• British spy chief's cover blown on Facebook 

• British Islamic group plans coup in Pakistan: report 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Varun fears threat to life; Maneka slams Govt 

• Kambakkht Ishq is not vulgar or offensive: Akshay 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

Hyderabad: The smell of death still hangs in the air at the Gokul Chat centre in Hyderabad. The bloodied floor, the lone slipper -- all signs of the horror of August 25, when an explosion ripped through the popular restaurant, killing 32 people and wounding 21.

When the bomb went off that night, Premchand Vijayvergiya, the owner of the restaurant, lost his livelihood, which for him was tantamount to losing his life.

"I thought it was a cylinder blast at first. There was no electricity. I came inside the shop and saw that there was blood everywhere," says Vijayvergiya.

But help came immediately, says he -- not from ambulances but from eyewitnesses and passers-by.

"Everybody tried to help. The police also reached soon and made sure that all the wounded immediately reached the hospital," he recalls.

Even as he witnessed the horror around him, Vijayvergiya didn't let the fear numb his mind and instead, used his presence of mind to help save many lives.

In the chaos, the businessman did not realise until much later that his nephew was also one of those injured.

"He is my child but the others too were someone's children. I had to help everyone," says he.

Vijayvergiya did his best, but his frustration and helplessness for not being able to stop this act of terror is clearly visible on his face.

"These people had just come out to eat some food and got brutally killed. I feel so sad and angry but I can't do anything about it," says he.

For Vijayvergiya himself, Saturday was a day that can never be forgotten. A day when terror came home, and took its toll.