No relief in sight for cracker blast victims

Tirupati: Members of two families that had lost their principal breadwinners in the July 30th cracker blast here, including an aged and blind woman, are still distraught as the compensation that officials promised is yet to reach them. Their only solace is that a women’s group helped them with money towards funeral expenses.

The families of Manikanta and Manjunatha, who died in the blast, are in shock till date.When The Hans India correspondent visited the houses of both the victims, there were pathetic scenes.

Savithramma (65), grandmother of the deceased Manikanta (17), has become a destitute. All that she does these days is to weep alone endlessly in front of her grandson’s memorabilia at a shed. Manikanta had been living with Savithramma since his childhood at Gallavani Gunta. He had lost his mother in his childhood.

Bemoaning her grandson’s accidental death, Savithramma shared her misery. “I have no support from anybody. With my grandson’s earnings I was leading my life. Currently, I have no income sources. Due to my blindness I am unable to work anywhere”.

“With the sudden demise of our grandson, we lost the only earning member of our family. Presently, only our granddaughter Nagalakshmi and myself are remaining in the family”.

“My granddaughter is going to work and is getting Rs 120 per day. That is the only income for us now. With that money, we have to lead our lives henceforth,” cries Manikanta’s grandmother, hardly in a position to repress her feelings.

Manikanta’s sister Nagalakshmi said: “We have not received any financial help from the government. One women’s group in our area helped with Rs 5,000 for funeral and other religious rituals. That is all. We have no own house. We are living in a small rented shed.”

Similarly, the family of Manjunatha (13), who was killed in the blast, is struggling for their livelihood. His mother, Valliyamma, said tearfully: “We lost our only son. We had no information about his working at the crackers shop godown. We were hopeful of his bright future.” “My husband is a lorry driver. Financially, our position is very bad.

We are struggling for our day-to-day survival. Till date, we have not received any financial support from the government,” said Manjunatha’s mother. When contacted, Chittoor Collector PS Pradyumna said that within two or three days money from the CM’s relief fund would be handed over to the families of the blast victims.