Assam’s Black Day: 16 years of remembrance for the October 30 bomb blast tragedy

Assam observes the 16th anniversary of the devastating bomb blasts that shook the state on October 30, 2008. More than 81 people lost their lives, while over 470 others sustained injuries in a series of bomb blasts that rocked multiple locations in across Guwahati.

 

Each year, the people of Guwahati mark this "Dark Day" with an emotional event held under the Ganeshguri flyover, a place where several people died on the "unfortunate" day. 

 

Family members and loved ones gathered today (October 30, 2024) to pay tribute to those they lost, many of whom were fathers, mothers, siblings, and friends. Offering flowers, prayers, and quiet moments of reflection, attendees remembered the lives torn apart by the tragic blasts.

 

Speaking to India Today NE, family members shared memories of their loved ones and the pain they still carry.

 

 

Among them, Mina Parveen became visibly emotional as she spoke about her father, a bus driver who was one of the victims. She was only ten months old when he died in the blasts.

 

“I miss my father every day,” she said tearfully. “Recently, my school held a badminton competition, and everyone’s father was there—except mine. I want to achieve something that will make my mother proud because my father isn’t here. I know he loved me, but I love him even more,” Mina added. 

 

Karan, another kin of a victim, recalled the pain of losing both his 4-year-old sister and father that day. His words underscored the ongoing emotional toll the blasts have had on families across the state as he narrated how difficult it was for him to live alone with his mother. 

 

Rantu Baruah, Dispur Circle Officer, emphasised the importance of the annual event.

 

“We organise this gathering every year to honour the memories of those who perished. It’s a way for us to show that they are never forgotten," Baruah added.