Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
With Inputs from Andrew L D Cunha
Mangalore, Apr 16: A tragic explosion that occurred as a result of a gas leak in an apartment on Kadri Kambala road on April 4 has left a mother devastated.
Bhagya (35) lost her 15-year-old daughter Bharathi and her husband Shivanand in the tragedy, while her son Anjaneya (14) is battling for life and she herself is still recovering.
The mother-son duo are being treated at district Wenlock Hospital in the city. Bhagya has recovered to a fair extent but Anjaneya continues to be in a serious condition.
Shivanand, from Haveri, used to work as a watchman in the apartments while Bhagya did household chores in various flats in the area. Bharati was a ninth standard student of St Francis Xavier’s School, Bejai, while Anjaneya studies in the eighth standard in the same school.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Bhagya, who is admitted to Wenlock hospital recalls with tears ebbing in her eyes, "On that night, my children and I were sleeping in the room while my husband was out. At around 4 am, my husband knocked on the door to inform me that there was odour of a gas leak emanating from somewhere. I woke up and checked, then found that the smell was coming from our room and I switched off the gas regulator.
“My husband then put on the light - I tried to stop him but it was too late. Suddenly a massive blast occurred and my daughter was thrown out of the compound due to the impact, while we were still inside the room. The walls also collapsed due to the incident," she said.
While Bharathi died on the spot, Shivanand who was critically injured passed away later.
Even though Anjaneya's medical treatment is being carried out free of cost by the hospital authorities, their lives have been totally shattered after the incident.
Bhagya, who is unable to work as before due to the burn injuries, stares at bleak future, with no one to fall back on for support and nowhere to go. It will take a long time for her son to recover from his injuries completely, and more so, for both of them to put this terrible tragedy behind and move on. For now, Bhagya and Anjaneya not only need plenty of prayers, but also financial support to tide over their sorrow.
We make an earnest appeal to philanthropists and our generous readers to join hands for this cause bring back some stability in the lives of Bhagya and her son.
Her bank details are:
Bhagya
Karnataka Bank
Bejai Branch
Account No. 4782500101589301
IFSC Code: KARB0000478
MICR: 575052003