Chennai: In a cruel twist of fate, 22-year-old techie Swati, who fell victim to the twin bomb blasts on the Bangalore-Guwahati train, was set to get married within just two months.
Swati, an engineering graduate from a college in Hyderabad, had joined a leading software firm in Bangalore only four months ago and was returning home with a friend when the blasts claimed her.
When the news of Swati's tragic death reached her family in Guntur, her parents and relatives were inconsolable.
"She was to come home today. But now only her body is coming", Swati's grief-stricken grandmother Rajalakshmi said. "She was to marry in another two months," a wailing Rajalakshmi said.
Fourteen persons were also injured in the bomb blasts that occurred in quick succession in the S4 and S5 coaches of the train as it arrived at the Chennai central railway station.
Meanwhile, Swati's body was taken to her native in Guntur tonight after post-mortem. The autopsy was done after the parents of Swathi arrived here from Guntur, according to sources in the state-run Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital.
Rama Rao, father of Swathi, and her mother Kamakshi accompanied by some of her relatives rushed to the city on learning about the tragic end of their daughter.
Swathi had joined TCS in Bangalore in December last and was to have entered into wedlock in about two months.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the Chennai blasts, saying such "barbaric acts" highlight the "desperation and cowardice" of those responsible and asserted that no efforts would be spared in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Offering condolence to the kin of the deceased and sympathy for those injured, he appealed for peace and expressed confidence that the people of the country will stand united against these attempts to disturb peace and harmony.
Singh said, "Such barbaric acts targeting innocent men, women and children only highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible," according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.
"The Prime Minister has offered his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and heartfelt sympathies to those injured", it said. He said, "No efforts should be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Centre, he said, will provide the state government all assistance towards this.
