'Yoga saved Indians trapped inside WTC'

Yoga helped a group of NRIs live through the heat and suffocation, a survivor of the 9/11 attack claimed.

Yoga helped a group of non-resident Indians (NRIs) live through the heat and suffocation inside New York's World Trade Center, a survivor of the September 11 terrorist attack claimed on Monday.

HT Image

Brahmkumar Ramprakash, a US citizen of Indian origin, said 80 NRIs who regularly practised breathing exercises in yoga handled respiratory problems for up to 45 minutes after terrorists flew hijacked aeroplanes into the building in 2001.

Ramprakash, an engineer, was speaking at a lecture organised by the local chapter of the Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya. He had been trapped on the 64th floor of the 110-storey World Trade Center.

"Intolerable heat and suffocation engulfed the building after the plane crashed. People ended their lives by jumping off the high-rise because they couldn't breathe. Jumping out was an easier way than being roasted," he said.

Ramprakash claimed yoga helped the Indians use the limited oxygen available perfectly and emerge out of the building safe.