Crackers are deadly, steer clear of them: Blast survivor
LUCKNOW: The festival of Diwali lights up the whole of India but for Qamar Jahan, a native of Sisendi, it is a grim reminder of a tragedy in 2014 that changed her life completely. Qamar Jahan lost her husband Mohammed Khaleel and seven other family members in a blast that took place at her licensed fire cracker manufacturing unit-cum- residence near Raja Ki Chakki in the town.
The Sisendi fire cracker tragedy was perhaps the biggest in Uttar Pradesh, claiming 16 lives, including those of some labourers.
People here say the intensity of the blast was such as if a missile had been airdropped. The bang and reverberations were felt across all neighbouring villages.
Qamar Jahan is averse to speaking about the incident because she does not want to recollect the horror of the past. But she strongly supports ban on the manufacture and use of crackers.
“I cannot change the past but I can change the future. I want a ban on the use and manufacture of crackers. It’s a deadly affair not only for the manufacturers but also for the buyers,” said Qamar , a housewife, who is now on an awareness spreading spree.
“Since I belong to an orthodox Muslim family and I am just a housewife, I have my limitations. I cannot move out but I certainly leave no chance to spread awareness among my near ones and others in the vicinity who are into the cracker business. I explain what can happen to them and their families, citing my own example,” she said.
The festival was more about spreading happiness among others, she said, adding the use of crackers may leave an adverse effect.
“It’s purely a demand and supply game. If customers stop using crackers, makers will certainly stop manufacturing them. It will also minimise pollution,” she said.
About herself, she merely said perhaps it was Allah’s will that saved her from the deadly explosion at the cracker manufacturing unit in her house.
However, on insisting, she agreed to share the incident. “As usual I woke up at 5am on that day and soon got busy with household chores. I prepared food for my son and daughter, who were still asleep. I quickly finished routine work and woke up my husband and then my children, telling them to get ready for school. It seemed quite a normal day. My children left for school at around 7:45am. My mother in-law, husband, sister and other family members, along with the labourers who were in the courtyard, were awake by then and suddenly we all heard a loud bang. the blast left a 4 ft deep crater in the ground and the roof top collapsed. This is all I remember.
“After I woke up in hospital, I learnt that I had lost seven of my family members, including my husband, in the blast. I then realised that it was a small iron partition that shielded me from the impact of the explosion. I am still unaware of the cause of the blast. I was the only member who was left alive in the house, barring my children who were in school,” she recounted.