Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Blast leaves them shaken

By Our Staff Reporter

A view of the IDL building which was reduced to rubble following the blast in Hyderabad on Tuesday. - Photo. K.Gajendran

HYDERABAD NOV. 25. It was around 3.25 p.m. Srinivas of Moosapet was having a nap after lunch. Suddenly, he heard a deafening sound. "We are used to explosive noises from IDL. But, this was so huge that all of us were scared", said Srinivas.

When he went up the stairs, he could see thick clouds of smoke followed by flames emanating from IDL premises. "I guessed something went wrong but couldn't realise it was so devastating", a private firm employee, Srinivas, recalled. It was a horrifying experience for thousands of people residing in localities adjoining IDL factory. "I was about to board my car and could feel the vehicle shake", Giridhar of Indiranagar said.

Many felt that something exploded in their backyard and came out of houses running. "For a moment, we thought it could be an earthquake", a housewife, Sujatha, said. The Kukataplly Municipality staff were having a meeting with the councillors when they heard a loud blast. They called off the meeting and rushed to the spot.

For Lalitha, a casual labourer working in the Detonator Cord section where the explosion took place, it was shock of her life. "I was lifting some objects when I heard a loud sound and the huge concrete rood came down us. I lost consciousness and when I woke up, saw myself on hospital bed", recalled a trembling Lalita.

A regular employee, Yadagiri, was trapped in the rubble. "After the deafening sound, vast iron beams came down on us. I was in shock for four or five minutes. Luckily none of the heavy concrete beams fell on me. With great difficulty, I managed to come out of it", said Yadagiri.

But, what baffled most of them were the reasons behind the blast. None could guess, ascertain or conclude as to what led to the explosion.

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