The dreams of Prasad to get married and settle down in life with a steady income remained unfulfilled when death came calling in the form of an explosion at IDL Chemicals at Kukatpally, where he was working.
Prasad, the son of a security guard, struggled for most of his 32 years of life, to overcome poverty and see that all financial problems of his family were taken care of. He was one of the two persons killed in the explosion at the Gulf Oil Corporation (formerly IDL).
The eldest of the three children of S Sundarachary and S Rani, he discontinued studies after 10th class and had been doing odd jobs to support his family. He worked for about five years in a unit that manufactures footware for diabetics before joining the IDL as a casual labourer four and a half years ago.
Known among his relatives as reserved and stoic person, Prasad’s only concern was his family. ‘’He used to work two shifts a day to earn more. He was paid `180 a shift. To save the trouble of preparing food, he started eating at his company canteen where food is available at a mere `3,’’ said his maternal uncle Ch Muralidhar.
Waiting for the police to hand over the body after postmorteAm at the mortuary of Gandhi Hospital, Muralidhar, a railway employee, with moistened eyes, said, “We were looking for a bride for him and getting ready to perform his marriage. But he left this world leaving a void.’’
Alwyn Reddy, a family friend, said Prasad was simple with no bad habits. ‘’He wanted to be self-reliant. We used to advise him to share his grief or trouble with us but did not want to burden others. On the other hand, he made himself available to the family whenever it needed him,’’ Reddy said.