Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday paid heartfelt tributes to the victims of the Coimbatore bombings, describing the tragedy as “a dark and painful chapter in our nation’s history.”
In a post on X, the Vice President recalled the events of February 14, 1998, when a series of explosions rocked Coimbatore during a visit by senior BJP leader L. K. Advani. The blasts claimed several innocent lives and left many injured, sending shockwaves across the country.
Reflecting on the day, Radhakrishnan said the atmosphere of fear, grief and uncertainty that prevailed in the city remains deeply etched in his memory. He also recounted his own narrow escape in one of the explosions and described the desperate efforts to rescue the injured and rush the critically wounded to hospitals as among the most painful moments of his life.
“I pay my heartfelt homage to the innocent lives lost in the tragic Coimbatore serial bomb blasts of 14 February 1998,” he wrote, expressing solidarity with the bereaved families. He said the loss suffered by the families can never be replaced.
Emphasising India’s firm stance against terrorism, the Vice President called upon citizens to reaffirm their collective resolve to stand united against terror and to uphold peace, harmony and national integrity.
