Rajendrasinh Parmar, Ahmedabad: Some tragedies leave marks that time cannot erase. June 12 is one such date for Ahmedabad. Exactly one year ago, death fell from the sky. A London-bound plane crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel and turned into a massive fireball within moments. Today, one year later, when the Jagran team visited this place, it became clear that although time has moved forward, the walls, trees, and ruins here still carry the memories of that terrible day.
Burnt Motorcycle
As soon as we entered the campus, the first thing we noticed was a burnt motorcycle. Covered in a thick layer of dust; it seemed as if it was still waiting for someone, perhaps its owner, who never returned that day. Rust has covered much of it, making it look like an old, expensive Bullet motorcycle. A short distance away stands a car that still bears the scars of the fire. The body is blackened, windows are shattered, and metal frame is only what remains.
Damaged Buildings
One section of the hostel building still shows clear signs of destruction. Broken walls, twisted iron rods, and rooms reduced to rubble seem to tell the story of that unfortunate day. In some places, an old student’s book could still be seen. Elsewhere, a broken chair lies abandoned. It feels as though time stopped here exactly one year ago.
A Tree That Witnessed It All
After walking further, we noticed a tree. Completely blackened, with its branches dried out, it looked as if it wanted to say something like: “I have been a silent companion of this hostel for many years. Please listen to my story. There was a time when medical students sat under my shade. Some worried about exams, while others dreamed about their future. Young doctors laughed, talked, and sometimes shared their struggles while sitting beside me. Their voices filled me with happiness.”
“But June 12 was different…I heard a terrifying roar from the sky. Within seconds, a giant ball of fire crashed down before me. The flames were so intense that they could turn anything into ashes in an instant. I saw people running in fear. I heard screams. The fire surrounded me, too. My green branches were burned away. My trunk survived, but the life inside me still feels lost. The scenes of destruction shook me deeply.”
Even if the burnt branches moved in the wind, it seemed as if they were still telling the story of that day. The objects scattered around the area continue to raise unanswered questions. A pair of glasses, a broken bag, fragments of someone's dreams and ambitions; everything remains buried beneath the debris of time.
A year has passed. Life is slowly returning to campus. Students are once again busy with their studies. Yet these ruins, the burnt motorcycle, the blackened cars, and this silent tree still stand as witnesses to that horrific afternoon. It reflects that some tragedies do not remain just news stories; they become part of a place’s soul forever.
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