Monday Morning Blast in Rawalpindi ... An eyewitness account

Rawalpindi, February 3, 2008 9:25am

An unknown suicide bomber riding a motorcycle rammed himself into an AFPGMI coaster (30-seater bus) at around 7:25am Monday in the R.A. Bazaar area of Rawalpindi.

On board were armed forces medical corps personnel (doctors) travelling towards the postgraduate medical institute in the cantt near the GHQ. One Colonel is confirmed dead (martyred). At least two more officers are seriously injured and taken to nearby CMH.

This is a firsthand account from my husband who heard the loud blast after dropping off our son at school in the same area and was himself on his way to work at the same institute. the morning MPH class he was scheduled to teach is cancelled as he is now attending his colleagues in the hospital.


News UPDATE: Monday Morning Blast

Rawalpindi, 3:48pm

It is a sad day today for the faculty, staff, and students of the Armed Forces Postgraduate Medical Institute-- the campus attended by my husband when he was a fresh MBBS graduate and once again as an MPH student. The same college where my husband is currently serving as the Adjutant, the Staff officer to the commandant, as well as the biostatistics and computer systems instructor to officers in the MPH and MSc courses.

This morning marked the first day of classes for the current batch of officers chosen from around the country to take the Unit Command Course. Five of them never signed-in today. As they boarded the coaster from the Officers' Mess, they had no idea what horror was waiting on the road ahead. Neither did the lieutenant colonel in charge of the community medicine department with whom my husband spoke on the phone last night. Or the two officers enrolled in MSc courses who were his former students. And a young captain doctor training as a gynecologist.

The targeted actions of the unidentified terrorist, the explosive-laden motorcycle exploded the bus on impact causing loss of life and limbs of army officers serving in the medical [on board the bus] and engineering [those who were standing at the site of the attack] corps and innocent civilian bystanders alike.

Phone calls have been made. Families have been called. There are critically injured victims admitted in CMH, MH, and elsewhere. Officers were residing in the mess because their families are left behind in their respective hometowns for the duration of their studies. Fortunately, another seven or so officers had taken the day off or they too would have been on board that same bus.

Arrangements have to be made. Relatives have to be accommodated. My husband has dropped off our son at home only to turn around and return to his unit... to coordinate the funerals and attend them.

The stormy afternoon will carry our gloom and grief into the night when the congregational prayer at 5pm will be held for Lt Col Bashir as well as the driver of the ill-fated bus.

Please think of the families. Please pray for everyone. The Capt Dr [gynecologist] suffered traumatic injuries and has undergone a double amputation of her legs... and a hysterectomy. She was pregnant.