Brussels victim's remains bring grief to Chennai

Chennai: The soft wails of Raghavendran Ganeshan’s grandmother crying out “Raju, why have you left me” filled the air in an otherwise dead silent Jyothi Mangala Nagar in Sithalapakkam. It was 3.30 pm and the techie, who lost his life in the deadly Brussels bombing, was to reach his aunt’s home here in the next 40 minutes. Gloom had descended on the locality much earlier.

Read: Missing Tamil Nadu techie died in Brussels metro blast

Locals pointed hands to keep directing anyone exiting the Ottiyambakkam main road to the house where dozens of family members and Infosys employees had been camping since the news broke confirming Raghavendran’s death in the Brussels metro blast as he was travelling in the same compartment as the suicide bomber.

Only one thing was on everyone’s lips — terrorism. It cost Raghavendran his life in Brussels but the brutality echoed at Sithalapakkam.

Ganeshan was scheduled to return to India during the last week of May.

Read: Brussels attack: Last call of missing Infosys techie tracked, says Sushma Swaraj

The mortal remains of Ganeshan arrived in Chennai on Tuesday. Parents of the deceased, Ganeshan and Annapoorani, and his younger brother, Chandrasekaran, accompanied the remains which arrived from Amsterdam via Dubai.

“It was a bracelet and a ring that he wore which helped the family identify [his body]. The DNA test was necessary because the body was blown to bits,” said Margaret, a neighbour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier on Tuesday expressed his condolences to the family. "A young life, full of hope and promise cut short by mindless violence. Condolences to family of Raghavendran," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Read: Brussels terror attack: Modi condoles Infosys employee's death

Infosys in a condolence message to the media said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Raghavendran's family and with those who were injured or lost a loved one in these attacks."