Lives snuffed out in brutal act of terror

Hyderabad: K. Krishna Chand was to celebrate his 27th birthday yesterday and his first marriage anniversary today. But now the two days will be preceded by his death anniversary.

Chand was having a delicious snack at Gokul Chaat, a much-frequented food joint, on Saturday when a terror blast snuffed out his life. Officials said at least 32 people were killed at the eatery.

"What should I tell my daughter?" Krishna's father-in-law asked, crying inconsolably.

Ten others died in another blast around 30 minutes earlier at a laser show in Lumbini Park near the Hussain Sagar Lake.

Simple pleasures

Couples having a special meal together, students scouting for books, families out to enjoy a laser show ... they were simple people out for simple pleasures on a weekend.

The 42 dead included three children. What did they do to deserve this?

Many victims were not even Hyderabad residents. Vigna, 18, had come all the way from Prakasam district to attend counselling for admission into an engineering college, but was killed at the bombing in Gokul Chat.

Ikramullah Khan, 17, was buying some eatables while his two sisters were waiting outside the eatery in an auto rickshaw. The three had gone to buy books at Kothi near Gokul Chaat, which has several well-known bookstores. Khan did not return.