Telangana factory tragedy: Sigachi 'missing' worker found alive after four days of search; tea break just before blast saved him
HYDERABAD: In a tragedy marked by destruction and despair, a single story of survival has emerged from the rubble of Sigachi Industries' multi-storey chemical plant, where a massive explosion on June 30 claimed 38 lives, left many others injured, and many more unaccounted for.
Of the 10 workers reported missing, one worker, Veerender Ram, has been found alive, thanks to a twist of fate.
Moments before the blast, Ram, a native of Bihar, in his twenties, stepped out of the factory for tea. Unaware of the scale of devastation, he fled with other survivors and returned to his rented accommodation in Isnapur.
Remarkably, he even joined another factory in the same industrial area later that day. His name, however, remained on the list of the missing, as his mobile phone had been left behind in the factory and was destroyed in the explosion, just like the others.
The last known location of all missing workers was the factory. At the time of the blast, the sole survivor had left his phone there.
Officials said, Sigachi workers are required to deposit their phones with security before reporting for duty. With no means of contact and no report of his survival, Ram was presumed missing.
Kin deserve closure, says police official
It was only on Wednesday, after Sangareddy police began analysing the call data records of the missing workers, that his status came to light. Investigators dialled numbers from the recent call logs. One of Ram’s contacts answered and confirmed he was alive.
“Following our request, Ram appeared before us on Thursday. We have now reduced the number of missing workers from ten to nine. Blood samples have been collected from the families of the missing for DNA analysis,” said SP Paritosh Pankaj.
Police and rescue teams have been painstakingly combing through the debris for over two days, recovering body parts and remains believed to be of missing workers. These will be matched with the DNA profiles of the workers’ relatives to confirm identities, sources said.
“We still have to identify nine missing workers and seven unclaimed bodies. We are expecting DNA test results by Friday. Our priority is to ensure that every victim is identified, and their families receive closure,” the SP added.
Of the 10 workers reported missing, one worker, Veerender Ram, has been found alive, thanks to a twist of fate.
Moments before the blast, Ram, a native of Bihar, in his twenties, stepped out of the factory for tea. Unaware of the scale of devastation, he fled with other survivors and returned to his rented accommodation in Isnapur.
Remarkably, he even joined another factory in the same industrial area later that day. His name, however, remained on the list of the missing, as his mobile phone had been left behind in the factory and was destroyed in the explosion, just like the others.
The last known location of all missing workers was the factory. At the time of the blast, the sole survivor had left his phone there.
Officials said, Sigachi workers are required to deposit their phones with security before reporting for duty. With no means of contact and no report of his survival, Ram was presumed missing.
Kin deserve closure, says police official
It was only on Wednesday, after Sangareddy police began analysing the call data records of the missing workers, that his status came to light. Investigators dialled numbers from the recent call logs. One of Ram’s contacts answered and confirmed he was alive.
“Following our request, Ram appeared before us on Thursday. We have now reduced the number of missing workers from ten to nine. Blood samples have been collected from the families of the missing for DNA analysis,” said SP Paritosh Pankaj.
Police and rescue teams have been painstakingly combing through the debris for over two days, recovering body parts and remains believed to be of missing workers. These will be matched with the DNA profiles of the workers’ relatives to confirm identities, sources said.
“We still have to identify nine missing workers and seven unclaimed bodies. We are expecting DNA test results by Friday. Our priority is to ensure that every victim is identified, and their families receive closure,” the SP added.
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