Tragic: Techie killed in Chennai blasts was to marry in two months

Parchuri Swathi, the 22-year-old Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee, who lost her life in the blasts yesterday, was supposed to get married in two months

Chennai: The 22-year-old Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee, who lost her life in the blasts yesterday, was supposed to get married in two months.

Bomb squad personnel inspect the train where one of the blasts erupted from underneath a seat. The woman killed had been sitting in the seat where the explosion occurred. Pics/PTI

Parchuri Swathi, an engineering graduate from a college in Hyderabad, had joined TCS in Bangalore only four months ago and was returning home with a friend when the blasts claimed her.

When the news of Swati’s death reached her family in Guntur, her parents and relatives were inconsolable. “She was to come home today. But now only her body is coming”, Swati’s grief-stricken grandmother Rajalakshmi said. “She was to marry in another two months.”

Bloody Thursday
Swathi was killed and 14 others were injured when two bombs exploded on a train after it entered the Chennai Central station, police said.

The low intensity explosions in quick succession occurred in two coaches just minutes after the Bangalore-Guwahati Express arrived at the station around 7.05 am. The explosions took place at 7.15 am, triggering panic at the busy station.

“The blasts occurred in coaches S4 and S5 of the Bangalore-Guwahati train,” Inspector General of Police (Railways) Seema Agarwal said. She added it was too early to say what kind of explosives were used. After detaching the two coaches, the train was later flagged off.

Police took into custody a young man who was hiding in one of the coaches. An eyewitness at the station said, “The blast was not very loud. It is only after we saw people running away from the train that we learnt something was wrong.”

He added that the rail coaches were not badly damaged, but the seat which Swati had occupied bore the brunt of the explosion. The train was scheduled to reach Chennai at 5.40 am but was running late by an hour and a half.

Rs 1 lakh
Ex-gratia to family of the dead by Southern Railway (SR)

Rs 25 K
Amount announced by SR for those who suffered serious injuries

Rs 1 lakh
The solatium announced by Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa to the family of the dead

Railways has set up a helpline. Friends and family can dial 044-25357398 for inquiries.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!