The resonance of the serial blasts is fading steadily. At the Civil Hospital, 13 patients are still recovering from their injuries. Myriad others wait for psychiatric assistance to get over the trauma.

Exactly a month after the blasts, programmes and prayers in memoriam were organised across the city on Tuesday.

At the Civil Hospital, a reunion of the blast-affected families and doctors was organised. Letters of appreciations were issued to the doctors and the

hospital staff, who worked tirelessly for 48 hours to handle

the patients in spite of the

most severe blast taking place in the hospital itself, claiming 37 lives.

The programme was attended by the state’s Health Minister

and government spokesperson

Jaynaraian Vyas, Minister of State for Health Parvat Patel, Secretary Health Rita Teotia along with other senior health officials. The families of the victims remembered their lost loved ones and school children paid tribute to the departed souls.

“The physical wounds are healing, but now the fear is seeping in the psyche of the people,” said Guman Singh, a youth from Asarwa. “Among our friends, we lost 15 people, all of whom had ran to the hospital to extend help,” he said, adding that while others attended the programme at the hospital, “none of the people from Asarwa who were injured in the blast turned up.” He further said that many of the locals have started avoiding to visit the blast sites.

The BJP held a demonstration at the Nehru bridge against terrorism on the occasion.

Students at the Seventh Day Adventist School at Maninagar East also held a candle light prayer for the departed souls. A candle light prayer was also organised at the Hatkeshwar blast site. The families of the victims along with other locals lit candles at 6.37 pm.

“The blast changed my life for good,” said Kalu Suratia, whose wife Daiben Suratia died in the Hatksehwar blast. “I was standing near her when the bomb went off. I escaped the blast, she could not,” he added.