15th March 2024

Me, My sister and my grandmother were in Ujjain and had already visited Mahakaleshwar Temple. We had plans to visit Mamleshwar, we thought that it would be cheap to visit there and would be somewhat near Ujjain but we were wrong. we learned that it will cost ₹350 from Ujjain to Mamleshwar that too per head.

Also, we had to spend a few hours on the bus with our grandmother. She’s 82 and we three hate long bus journeys. So we dropped the plan.

In just an instance, we made plans for Bhopal for a couple of reasons 

• first- it would take us near our next and final destination Bageshwar Dham, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh.

• Second – It was my obsession for 2 years to visit the Union carbide factory after I learned that I and my sister were getting admission in Madhya Pradesh, which was boosted after I watched the Railway men’s web series. Also, because I had learnt about the tragedy all my life in schools and I always wanted to go there.

We planned to take a train from Ujjain Junction to Bhopal Junction at 11am.

16th March 2024

I woke up at 5 am did daily chores and started working on my thing for the fact that I get unlimited data from 12 – 6 am.

My sister then told me to check the train, I said that if we took that 11 am train then would take us to Bhopal by 4 pm but that meant that it would destroy our day.

She asked about any other trains before that to which I replied that there is a train 1 hour from now ( 19711 ). She said that she will get ready by then.

We then packed up everything, brushed our teeth and left for Bhopal Junction.

I didn’t buy a ticket as I was late and I was unable to locate the ticket counter.

Also, because I started negotiating with a bookstore for the book “ The Almanack of Naval Ravikant “ I wanted that book and I was ready to pay for it.

I asked the price and he seemed to make me a fool. He first said that it’s in dollars and you change it in rupees, I checked and it was some thousand rupees. Lol.

At last, he said that it would cost ₹385, I checked Flipkart and it showed ₹288 I showed him and he said that ₹300 was last as he has to pay taxes and stuff. I requested him to go below or equal to the price I am getting on Flipkart.

Since I am the customer I will always opt for the best possible option. He didn’t lower the price further so I left.

We got in the general compartment of the train and luckily we three got seats.

I had the book “ Think and Grow Rich “ in my hand I carried it in my hand from the place where we stayed at Shipra River, Ujjain to Ujjain junction.

I started reading the book and I could see a few boys staring at me. ( Boys not girls )

I then read a dozen pages from starting and then wrote this blog while listening to music in Yt music.

Just before I saw someone’s body carried out to burn.

At 11 am we were at the city of Lakes, Bhopal.

We made our way to the platform – 1 and looking at it I was in aww. It was marvellous.

We were hungry so we didn’t explore Bhopal Junction but I wanted to, I wanted to see it and think about what exactly happened on that disaster night.

We then proceeded to have some food. It was of ₹70 for each plate and we also took some extra vegetables and rice which then made it to ₹250 for three people.

After eating we were now on a hunt for affordable rooms, the ones which we found were from ₹800 – ₹1000 which we could give but still, we just wanted to spend a night so, it won’t be a good idea to spend that much. That too when my father and not me are paying for the trip. I need to do everything within budget.

That’s the reason why every extra thing I eat or buy I do it from my bank account.

I wanted to get a dormitory at Bhopal Junction but since we didn’t have a PNR so, there was no chance. Then also I looked at the Lounge and it was decent.

I went back to the place where my grandmother my sitting, after some time my sister came and said that she found a room for ₹500 and it was good. 

I could trust her on these things, she is better than me in negotiating things. We went there we checked in and yeah the room was decent. I also found that they have WiFi, I got it connected and then gave my laptop to my sister and told her to watch her shows and I am going to my dream place THE UNION CARBIDE FACTORY. I generally hate giving my laptop to someone else but in this case, I had something much more important than that.

I got some details about the factory location from the hotel owner ( Silver Plaza ).

I then went live on Facebook ( private account ) and then drank ₹10 iced sugarcane juice, as I was thirsty.

Then by asking people In no time I was at the boundary of the factory. It was scary though I asked people to get some info and they had mixed opinions some said there is nothing you can do while some said that if the police find you they will catch you.

Still, I went inside while I was live on Facebook.

I tried searching for Police officers but failed so, I gradually progressed towards the building. I only saw a pig and a dog and some strange noises. 

I saw all the corpses and rusted iron.

I was scared because there was no one on the whole campus other than me and I was a lone wolf there. After I reached the place I thought of climbing the stairs and going upwards but as soon as I stepped my leg on that iron stair I found that it was soft and it was broken at every intersection.

I backed off for the reason that if I fell or something bad happened to me there was no one to help me. I was all alone and it was scary also. If I get a chance in future I will get a guide and will go all the way up. 

I then video-called my friend Mayank and made him see all the things, he was in his bed and virtually at the Union Carbide Factory.

Also, some places smelled like hell, like a body decaying.

I also explored all the other other rooms/ buildings and all that came in front of me.

After I was satisfied exploring the factory, I went back with lots of confidence. I then drank a ₹10 roofafza as I was again thirsty.

Now, out of two tasks one was fulfilled to see the factory the other was to talk to a survivor.

I went back to the place which was closest to the factory. I saw a Muslim man there selling Sugarcane juice, he seemed to be a local and I also wanted to drink sugarcane juice, so I went and got some information about what happened and where could I find the Survivors.

I was wearing a saffron dress ( coincident ) and he was a Muslim still we talked like friends. His father died in that disaster. We even talked about politics and other stuff. 

He suggested I go to JP Nagar which was 1 km away, after going there I found out that the majority of the families followed Islam and I was a bit scared also because I was wearing a saffron dress. There I found that famous statue of that woman with her kid who died.

I found an old man there and I asked him about the location of Bhopal Junction. He seemed nice so I talked to him about the disaster.

 I came to know that most of the houses of JP Nagar were made from the money they were compensated

The affected survivors were paid ₹200 monthly until death and they still get free treatment for any of the illnesses. That man recently had his heart surgery for free.

When it happened at first people thought that someone was burning chilli. 

Soon they came to know that it was coming from the factory. 

People were dying here and there, as everything was handling more than its capacity. 

The owner of the company came to India with the money to distribute to the affected but the Government managed him.

We then talked about what he thinks about Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid.

After I was done, I went forward to Bhopal Junction, I saw the station and also saw the small memorial made on platform 1 for the railway men.

After that, I went to the room, and my grandmother was watching Shree Krishna Leela, after that I got my laptop back and I started working on my project.

Evening at around 5:30 pm, we saw Birla Museum on the internet and we decided to go there. Everyone was taking on reserve so I was finding someone on Ola & Uber but then my sister found someone ready to take us in ₹80. We visited Birla Museum and Birla Mandir. 

The mandir was decent but the view of Bhopal you get from there is amazing. In the evening it looked even gorgeous.

After spending time exploring the Museum we got into an auto for ₹70 to Bhopal Junction ( our hotel was near Bhopal Junction )

Now, we had taken room near the Bhopal Junction Platform – 1 side and he left us on the whole other side.

We got out and bought Bananas for my grandmother. We then crossed the railway lines by Foot over the bridge and we were now on the other side. We bought grapes there and had our dinner. 

I had 8 pooris, pickel and vegetables for ₹50.

We then went to the room, and my sister then at last bought 2 banyans and 2 underwear for me, the banyans were a bit smaller so I made her refund that. I was working at the time and soon I started feeling tired so, I slept.

We had plans to get that 6 am train to Chhatarpur, MP but I didn’t get up. Lol.

My sister got tea for me that too for ₹6 and then I got up. I worked a bit and then I handed her the Laptop and then went to the toilet.

After I came I again started working as I was getting wifi here. At around 9:30 am, I came to my senses that I had to check out also, or else I would have to pay for one more day. 

We got out and we gave our bags to the cloakroom at Bhopal Junction since we were too near the station. We then drank tea for ₹6 each and went to have breakfast.

At the table, we found out that the food was cold and probably it was cooked yesterday only. So, we left it and started looking auto for the Regional Science Centre, Bhopal and as predicted no one was ready to take us without reserving the auto. I then booked an auto ( OLA )for ₹72 and we came to our destination crossing a very beautiful lake of Bhopal. We also saw a life-sized statue of Rani Kamlapati.

We took ₹50 per ticket/head for 3 people.

The science centre looked decent and I started exploring it, I even played with swings and did other activities. I thought that it was more of a park until I found out that the main thing lies in the building, I got into the building and it was awesome. I had been to Sri Krishna Science Centre and this too was similar.

We then went to the Taramandal Show & a 3d movie which was included in the ticket.

After that, we took an auto and came back to Bhopal Junction onto which my sister took banyans for me and soon we took a train to Rani Kamlapati station.

When I reached to Rani Kamlapati I was shocked to see such a railway station. I couldn’t believe my eyes and it seemed unreal. What I saw I can’t even tell you with the help of words.

For the first time in my life, I took a subway to exit the station. 

First of all the railway station itself looks one of a kind and I also saw the development of the metro and the elevated paths. It was giant & massive. 

I then went to look for hot food, and since I was unsuccessful we went again inside the station as our train to Chhatarpur was to depart from platform – 1.

My sister went to bring food and I with my grandmother were waiting at the platform – 1.

She came just 3 minutes before the train came, we didn’t have a registration. So, when we saw the crowd in the general compartments our plans suddenly changed.

We now decided that we will postpone the plan of going to Chhatarpur to next time.

We then ate the food my sister brought at the railway station. We hadn’t eaten all day so, eating the food we all felt satisfied.

After we were done, we went to seek a lounge for obvious reasons as my Mobile battery was down and I also had to do some work on my laptop.

When we went to the Lounge at Rani Kamlapati station, It shocked me again. I saw an ecosystem there that too on the foot over bridge.

I saw shops there and I saw lifts that too on a foot over the bridge.

I then wondered that our only limitations are we.

Since the lounge didn’t have electrical boards so we went to the gallery. My grandmother rested there and I charged my phone, plugged my laptop and started my work.

At 9:30pm we got down to the platform – 5 where our train Rewanchal Express was waiting for us.

The train starts from Rani Kamlapati and goes all the way to Rewa, which means we will be travelling from start to end.

I thought that we would get a proper seat even to sleep but we were late and we were wrong.

We were still lucky that we got seats to sit.

So, we left Bhopal & reached Rewa the next day at 9 Am.

This is Navneet signing off from today’s blog.

Peace🕊️

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