Blast at Chhattisgarh power plant: Victims' families left with unfulfilled promises, uncertain future

New Delhi: Only two days ago, Sheikh Saifuddin (40) had promised his teenage children that he would visit his hometown in West Bengal soon and spend some time with them besides casting his vote in the assembly elections.

The promise will now remain unfulfilled as Saifuddin, resident of Haldia in Purba Medinipur district, was among the 17 workers killed in a blast at a Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district on Tuesday.

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His brother Rafiq rushed to Chhattisgarh after learning that he was seriously ill.

"Someone from our village told me that Saifuddin was unwell and in the ICU. I left by car at midnight and reached here this afternoon, he said.

By the time Rafiq arrived, his brother had died.

A Class 8 dropout, Saifuddin had spent several years as a migrant worker, moving from Jammu to Kerala to Odisha. He had arrived in Chhattisgarh just a couple of months ago in search of steady income, and found a job at the power plant located in Singhitarai village. He made about Rs 25,000 a month.

His wife had died two years ago, Rafiq said, adding that Saifuddin is survived by an 18-year-old daughter and a 17-year-old son, both still studying.

Recently, Saifuddin had spent Rs 5,000 on his son's appendix surgery, Rafiq said.

"His children spoke to him just two days ago. He promised that he will visit home just ahead of the assembly elections in Bengal to cast his vote and spend time with them. Now he will never return," said a weeping brother.

The government should help with the children's education and give them jobs, Rafiq added.

Of the 17 workers killed in the blast, five were from West Bengal.

For Santosh Kumar from Bhagalpur, Bihar, this was a second blow within a week.

"We were mourning the death of our uncle earlier this week when we learnt about my brother Ritesh," he said.

Ritesh Kumar, 42, had joined the plant only three months ago, and dreamed of educating his three children. Now he would not be there to see them grow up, said his brother.

Confusion and lack of information following the devastating blast exacerbated the sufferings of the victims' relatives.

Many ran from one hospital to another, searching for their loved ones.

Sani Kumar Anant said he spent hours visiting five hospitals in Raigarh, looking for his brother Rameshwar Mahilange (29) who died in the blast.

"No one could tell me anything. He has a young child. Who will take care of his family now?" asked Sani Kumar.

Uday Ram, who rushed from Jharkhand after hearing about the incident, faced a similar ordeal.

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His son-in-law Brijesh Kumar had joined the plant only last month.

"We were told he was in Jindal hospital in Raigarh. When we went there, we were told that his body was shifted to Raigarh Medical College Hospital. But there too, no one told us anything," said a grief-stricken Uday Ram.

Kumar has left behind two children, aged one and two.

Eyewitnesses described the blast as nothing short of catastrophic.

Ajit Das Kar, a painter from West Bengal, said it felt "like a missile had landed." Thick smoke engulfed the area within seconds.

"We had just finished lunch when it happened," he said. "We were working about 17 metres high (from the ground). The blast came from the boiler below. I was shielded by a cupboard. Those below were badly burnt," he said.

"I will never forget this incident for the rest of my life," Kar added.

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