Phones fall silent after Sigachi blast, kin left in distress

The families of Sigachi Chloro Chemicals workers were left devastated as calls to missing employees went unanswered following Monday’s blast. With little help from the authorities, many relatives waited at the factory gate in rain, clinging to hope

Sangareddy: The unanswered phones of employees working at Sigachi Chloro Chemicals Private Limited left their family members in deep distress after the industrial explosion at the unit in Pashamylaram Industrial Area on Monday.

As soon as the news of the explosion broke, several anxious families rushed to the factory premises hoping to find their loved ones safe. Since the injured had been shifted to five different private hospitals in Patancheru and Chandanagar, most family members first visited these hospitals in search of their kin. Those who could not trace their relatives there, rushed to the factory, desperately seeking information. Many were seen making repeated phone calls, hoping for a response. However, their hopes began to fade as the calls went unanswered.

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One heart-wrenching scene was that of the wife of Shiv, a migrant worker from Bihar, who was seen crying inconsolably and continuously dialling his number, hoping he would answer. Despite her efforts until evening, there was no response from Shiv. Similarly, the wife and son of employee GR Nageshwar Rao were also seen trying to reach him over the phone. In another instance, Balakrishna’s wife and their children anxiously attempted to contact him, only to be met with silence. Distraught over the lack of any response, many of the family members broke down in tears.

The absence of proper communication or assistance from either the management or the district administration compounded the suffering. With no clear answers forthcoming, families waited at the factory gate until late into the night, braving the rain, desperately seeking updates.

Officials, meanwhile, tried to pacify the aggrieved relatives and urged them to return home. However, most refused to leave, clinging to hope in the face of growing despair.