Pall of gloom as blast victim's body reaches Chennai

A pall of gloom descended on the Royapettah area in Chennai on Monday when the body of Bhavani, who died in the bomb blast in Bengaluru on Sunday, was brought back to her home.

Most of her relatives and friends were in tears when the body was taken into the house on Begam 2nd Lane of Border Thottam Street, near Anna Salai.

A huge crowd had gathered at the location on Monday evening, braving the weather. Around 10 pm, a tempo-traveller with a Karnataka registration number turned into the street followed by an ambulance from Bengaluru.

Bhavani Devi was married to Balan (45), who owns a tyre shop on the General Patters Road in the city.

Balan, who evaded the media, was overcome with emotion as he walked straight into his apartment, having accompanied his wife's body from Bengalaru. “I am shattered, and have nothing more to say,” he said, urging mediapersons to go away.

“We are shocked to hear the news. I asked her to purchase a saree for me from Bengaluru. It is very very unfortunate and sad,” said Bhavani's neighbour Gomathi.
Bhavani's family said her funeral would be conducted on Tuesday morning. 

Bhavani's nephew R Suresh Kumar said, “She was a very soft-spoken person. If you visited her house, she would never let you leave without having coffee. We haven't come to terms with what had happened.” Bhavani's relatives said she loved cooking.

Bhavani and her family had rented a house in that area just few months ago after renting out her own house in that area to a couple.