Bhubaneswar: Time seems to have stopped for the families of the victims of the deadly explosion at the petrol pump in Bhubaneswar. While the mishap has left an irreparable void for one family, another family is grappling with a lot of unanswered questions.
The uncertainty surrounding missing Simanchal Parida has been unbearable for his family members. Hailing from Ganjam district, Simanchal's near and dear ones claim that they are yet to trace his whereabouts following the explosion. A diploma engineer by training, Simachal was engaged in LPG maintenance work after he recently moved to Bhubaneswar from Kolkata.
His absence is unbearably painful for all and even more heart-breaking for his little son who is desperate to see his father again and longs for his guidance & help in online studies.
The family says that on the fateful day at around 1 pm, Simachal had sent a link to his son for online classes. Minutes later his phone switched off and it has never come back alive since.
In case of deceased Satya Nayak, a resident of Aska area in Ganjam, his little son will never forget those last moments of affection. At this age when he is not aware of life and death, the kid's expectant eyes are enough to swell up tears not only in the eyes of his family members but others.
Recently, a video shot moments before the blast by Satya surfaced showing the dangerous conditions in which he was performing his job.
"He was always telling that the work is dangerous, but to earn a livelihood for the family he had to continue with the job. He was supposed to return home the day the mishap occurred,” said his crestfallen wife.
The video showed how 3 to 4 people including Satya were engaged in the refilling of an LPG tank at the petrol pump near the Raj Bhawan. Moments after a powerful explosion left a trail of destruction at the spot.
The Commissionerate Police and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) are currently probing the case.