Painful wait for submarine victims' kin

For the families of the victims of the ill-fated INS Sindhurakshak, it is a long agonizing wait before they get confirmation about the loss of their loved ones, which is now almost a foregone conclusion. Kin of the victims have gone to Mumbai to give blood samples for DNA testing and matching with the bodies that have been found. The Sindhurakshak submarine had sunk following a blast, killing 18 Naval officials on board. However, only seven bodies have been recovered so far.

"As of now, we have been told that officials will come and brief us. We have not been permitted to see the recovered bodies since they are beyond recognition," said a heartbroken Simhachalam, brother-in-law of 29-year-old T Rajesh who hailed from Visakhapatnam.

Simhachalam said the Naval officials received them along with the relatives of Sitaram Badapalli from Srikakulam on Monday. Simhachalam, who is accompanied by Rajesh's brother, added: "They have given us accommodation in the mess and Rajesh's brother was asked to give blood samples for the DNA test. In the case of the victims, DNA would be taken from the teeth or bones." In a choked voice, he added that he had always promised his sister Jyothi that he would do anything for her but never bargained for this. "No matter what news I give her, it can never be good news," he said.

Meanwhile, DVN Murthy, brother of 35-year-old Dasari Prasad from Simhachalam, who was among the first ones to reach Mumbai along with Prasad's brother-in-law and one more relative, returned on Monday after giving his DNA samples. "Naval officials used to brief us twice about the developments every day. No time frame has been given but the harsh truth is that neither my brother nor anyone else is alive. You don't take samples for matching DNA with those who are alive," the Vizag Naval Dockyard employee sobbed.

Back homes, Prasad's inconsolable mother Acchiyyama has lost all appetite as she waits for news of her son who had spoken to her a couple of hours before the mishap.

"Acchiyyama had to be given intravenous fluid since she hasn't eaten anything for the past four-five days," said Captain (Retd) Dr P Satya Prasad, zilla sainik welfare officer, Visakhapatnam. He said that the wives of top Naval brass from Visakhapatnam met the aggrieved families on Monday and consoled them.

Another brother of Prasad, Srinu, who had flown down from Singapore on hearing the news, said that Prasad's pregnant wife has still not been told about her loss. "All she knows is that her husband survived with some minor injuries and is under treatment in a military hospital where phones are not permitted. She is hoping that he will join her soon as he had promised before sending her to her parents' place in Vijayawada along with her three-year-old daughter," he said.

Ironically state politicians still could not take out time to meet the bereaved families. "A local minister was expected to come yesterday but cancelled his visit for some 'more important meeting'. In fact, we do not want to see the faces of any politicians now," said a relative of one of the victims from Vizag.

Tuesday 20 August 2013

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Painful-wait-for-submarine-victims-kin/articleshow/21926873.cms