26th January 2001. 8:46 AM IST. A ferocious 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck western India, killing 22,000+ people.
Buried alive, for days, under tons of rubble of a collapsed building, in absolute darkness without food, water, light, or the ability to even move—and with the ceiling hanging precariously just inches above my head, all I wanted was to find my family.
Background
I was a happy-go-lucky guy who loved life. While studying for my Master’s program in New Jersey, I eagerly waited for the winter break, so that I could visit my family back in India.
After being away from my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and my two year old nephew for 15 months, we finally reunited. I couldn’t ask for more. It was a magnificent time of my life.
What happened next
At 8:46 AM on January 26th, 2001, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the town of Bhuj, India. We were at the epicenter of the earthquake, vacationing.
Our building collapsed like a house of cards. I was trapped underneath tons and tons of rubble. With zero visibility, I was lying inside a concrete coffin without food or water, and I couldn't move.
How long was the air around me going to last?
TRAPPED. FAMILY MISSING. The only resource I had was my own mind.
Spoiler alert (for the book readers)
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I was rescued after 4½ days from underneath the rubble, unscathed, by the incredible International Rescue Corps, Scotland.
The incredible rescue team
Choosing Light is a story about what kept me alive and things that I learned about the incredible powers that reside in us all. The book is dedicated to my family and the Incredible International Rescue Corps. team.