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Monday, October 29, 2012

Memorial to be unveiled for 2008 Guwahati blast victims

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi will unveil a swahid bedi below Ganeshguri flyover at the site of the 2008 serial blasts on Tuesday to honour those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

October 30 marks the fourth anniversary of the tragedy and a memorial service is also being organised by the Kamrup (metro) district administration in collaboration with the state government.

Around 90 people died and many were injured during the serial blasts, which occurred at Ganeshguri, Panbazar and near CJM Court at Kachari.

Assamese sculptor Biren Singha has created the memorial at an estimated cost of Rs 25 lakh.

“Like every year, this time, too, we are organising a memorial service to pay tribute to the people who had lost their lives during the serial blasts. A prayer service will be followed by lighting of lamps by the public. The chief minister will inaugurate the memorial on the occasion. The families of the victims are likely to be present during the service,” said Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri.

The memorial is a concrete structure, which has been shaped like a tree trunk with roots spreading on all sides. A few golden leaves are falling from the branches and the heart of the trunk has a few empty photo frame-like structures. At the foot of the tree is another structure depicting the two halves of mother earth.

Explaining the meaning of the structure, Singha said: “While the tree signifies society and the various groups of people residing in it, the falling leaves depict the lives that were lost during the blasts. The aftermath of the incident shook the very foundation of society, which has been signified by the two halves of the earth. The empty photo frames at the centre of the tree trunk signify that the people who had lost their lives will continue to live in the memory of their dear ones.”

Several organisations will also jointly organise a memorial service, followed by a blood donation camp on the premises of the CJM Court in memory of the victims on Tuesday.

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