I wake up in midnight as blast sound still ringing in my ears: Sigachi blast survivor recalls harrowing day

A year after the Sigachi blast, survivors continue to suffer psychological trauma, sleepless nights and financial hardship. They have demanded permanent employment and Rs one crore compensation, alleging that the company has stopped paying salaries and denied them further treatment

Sangareddy: Proper sleep is a distant dream for the 28 persons who were injured in the Sigachi blast. Even after a year of the blast, they wake up in the middle of their sleep as the sound of the blast still rings in their ears.

Speaking to Telangana Today, M Sushma, a postgraduate in organic chemistry, recalled that she never slept through the night even after getting discharged from the hospital. Sushma, who was among the seriously injured, said that she would wake up in the middle of the night, disturbing her parents’ sleep.

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She further said that she used to remain awake until 4 am every day for a few months. “My parents, who worked in housekeeping at offices in Gachibowli, left their jobs to take care of me. Since then…” she said. While talking about her struggles and her parents’ plight after the blast, Sushma could not control her tears as she sees no end to her problems.

Stating that her parents wanted to arrange her marriage this year, she ruefully said that marriage appears to be a distant dream for her now as she sustained burn injuries to her face, legs and hands. Moreover, Sushma said that she could not stand for long hours.

Another woman, M Divya, said that she too spends sleepless nights even now as the sound of the blast continues to echo in her mind whenever she tries to sleep. Both the survivors are below 25 years of age and unmarried. Their parents are worried about their future as no one is coming forward to marry them because both sustained serious burn injuries all over their bodies.

The victims demanded that the government provide them with permanent employment at the Sigachi Sulthanpur plant or in the government sector, considering their struggles. They also urged the government to provide Rs one crore as compensation to the seriously injured, as they are still spending on their treatment. The management has stopped paying their salaries and denied them treatment.