Visakhapatnam: Charlapalli Harika (22) was the lone woman worker to die in the pharma company blast, which killed 17 workers. Three women had been injured in the incident. One of them has been discharged and two others are undergoing treatment for burn injuries.
Soft spoken, Harika hailed from Kakinada. She went to a municipal school in Kakinada. As a meritorious student, she found a seat in IIT at Idupulapaya to pursue chemical engineering.
Her father, a mason by profession, died early. Her 10-year-old brother had gone missing from home and is yet to be traced. She had been living with her mother Annapurnamma and grandmother Adilaxmi.
After completing her graduation last year, Harika joined as a trainee chemical engineer at Escientia Advanced Sciences in Atchutapuram SEZ in Rambilli mandal of Anakapalli district in September last year.
She went on leave for two days to appear for an examination. She returned to duties on Wednesday morning. She died in the blast in the afternoon. Her mother and grandmother were shattered upon hearing the tragedy, as were all the colony residents of her locality.
Her relatives took her body for last rites before the trade unions staged a protest at the KGH mortuary.
