6. Gayatri witnessed her father, mother and sister burnt alive.

On the 27^th February, the Ahmedabad bound Sabarmati Express, carrying Karsevaks from Ayodhya was barbarously attacked and burnt at Godhra in which around 60 karsevaks laid their lives. Gayatri Panchal a young eleventh class student was also amongst those who were returning from Ayodhya. She is a surviving witness to the inhuman atrocious cruelty in which right in front of her eyes two of her sisters and parents were burnt alive.

Harshadbhai Panchal, a resident of Ramol, left for karseva at Ayodhya on the 22^nd February, together with his wife Neetaben and three daughters, Pratiksha, Chhaya and Gayatri. His sister in law, her son, her neighbour Poojaben and her would be husband were also accompanying him.

All of them were returning to Ahmedabad along with several other karsevaks. Harshadbhai and his family, Poojaben and her husband were in one compartment. While his sister in law and her husband and their son were in another compartment. The only survivor out of these ten, Gayatri, says about this horrible event that, on the 27^th morning, at around 8 a.m. the train left Godhra Station. The karsevaks were loudly chanting the Ram Dhoon. The train had hardly gone ½ Km., when it suddenly stopped. Somebody had perhaps pulled the chain to stop the train. Before anybody could know what had happened, we saw a huge mob approaching the train. People were carrying weapons like Gupti, Sphere, Swords and such other deadly weapons in their hands and were throwing stones at the train. We all got frightened and some how closed the windows and the doors of the compartment. People outside were shouting loudly, saying “Maro, Kato” and were attacking the train. A loudspeaker from the Masjid close by was also very loudly shouting “Maro, Kato, Laden na dushmano ne Maro.” These attackers were so fierce that they managed to break the windows and close the doors from outside before pouring petrol inside and setting the compartment on fire so that nobody could escape alive. A number of attackers entered the compartment and were beating the karsevaks and looting their belongings. The compartments were drenched in petrol all over. We were terrified and were shouting for help but who was there to help us? A few policemen were later seen approaching the compartment but they were also whisked away by the furious mob outside. There was so much of smoke in the compartment that we were unable to see each other and also getting suffocated. Going out was too difficult, however myself and Pooja some how managed to jump out through the windows. Pooja was hurt in her back and was unable to stand up. People outside were trying to hold us to take us away but we could escape and run under the burning train and succeeded in crawling towards the cabin. I have seen my parents and sisters being burnt alive right in front of my eyes. Luckily, by the grace of God, Gayatri was not hurt too badly. We somehow managed to go up to the station and meet our aunty (Masi). After the compartments were completely burnt the crowd started withering. We saw that even amongst them were men, women and youngsters like us both male as well as female. I returned here after evacuating the dead bodies of my family members at Godhra Station. Out of 18 of us ten had laid their lives.
                                                                                                                     
Gayatri’s father was a carpenter whereas her mother worked in the Madhyanha Bhojana Yojna, her elder sister Pratiksha was serving in the collectorate.

In spite of what had happened, Gayatri still feels that she would any time once again venture to go for karseva. She says, “I shall not allow the sacrifice of my parents to go in vein.

(2) Prafullaben regrets her inability to go for karseva

Amongst the 60 karsevaks who fell pray to the atrocious event at Godhra on the 27^th Feb., were Mansukhrambhai Soni and his young son. They were also traveling in the same ill fated Sabarmati Express on 27^th Feb. Both of them were burnt alive inside the compartment of the train. He is survived by his wife, daughter in law, grand daughter and her child. One had to wriggle for words of consolation when somebody went to call on them. It is however no doubt a fact that his wife Prafullaben is a brave lady of great conviction and courage. She says the loss of those lost cannot ever be fulfilled but protection to Hindu Dharma is our first Dharma. My husband and the son have sacrificed their lives in the service of God. I regret that I myself could not go for karseva otherwise even I would have had the opportunity to do the same sacrifice towards protection of our dharma. I have been bestowed with only one son, if I had another ones even they would have undoubtedly ventured similarly without any hesitation. My husband and the son have venerated the name of our family for the sake of our dharma.

(3) “Javerbhai Prajapati, one more said tale of vanishing support of a joint family”

Javerbhai Prajapati together with his three friends was returning after performing karseva at Ayodhya, through the same ill-fated Sabarmati Express of 27^th Feb. All the four perished in the carnage at Godhra.

His son disclosed that Javerbhai was determined to perform karseva and he convinced his other three friends to accompany him.

After the demise of his elder brother Javerbhai was shouldering total responsibility of his brother’s family. Since he had one heart attack earlier he was warned by the family to play safe. He however persisted to proceed to Ayodhya. He was the lone supporter of their joint family. The whole family has crumbled down because of this event. However the story is more or less the same in all the sixty families who have suffered in the debacle. All the bodies were charred beyond recognition. Only a driving licence from my father’s pocket enabled me to recognize his body. The bodies were in such a state that they could not be lifted. Each one of them had ultimately to be tucked in a separate bundle, half burnt, charred, mutilated, oozing mass of flesh and bones. Could they be called bodies? What a ghastly deed?