Telangana factory blast: A young couple's journey from opposition to acceptance ends in heartbreak

Both came from modest backgrounds. Nikhil, a farmer's son from a small village near Jammalamadugu, worked tirelessly to complete his MSc. Ramya was born into a farm labourer's family in South Malapalli.

Pashamylaram (Sangareddy dist): A young couple whose love had conquered family opposition, only to be claimed by a tragedy, is perhaps the most heartbreaking story to emerge from Monday's devastating explosion at Sigachi Industries in Pashamylaram in Sangareddy district.

Both Nikhil Reddy from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district and Sri Ramya from Putrela village in Tiruvuru, NTR district, in Andhra Pradesh had completed their MSc degrees and found employment at the pharmaceutical company. They both worked in quality control department of the factory. Their workplace friendship blossomed into love, but initial family opposition due to caste differences threatened to tear them apart.

Both came from modest backgrounds. Nikhil, a farmer's son from a small village near Jammalamadugu, worked tirelessly to complete his MSc before securing employment at Sigachi Industries. Ramya's story mirrored her determination. Born into a farm labourer's family in South Malapalli, she studied at Tirupati Padmavati Women's University before joining the same company where destiny would unite her with Nikhil.

"Both children came from very ordinary families, worked hard to educate themselves, and earned jobs through their own efforts," recalls Tiruvuru MLA Kolikapudi Srinivasarao, who became instrumental in their love story. "After becoming good friends, they grew to love each other and decided to get married."

When the couple informed their families about their decision, small obstacles arose regarding their inter-caste union. The young couple endured severe mental anguish for several months before approaching MLA Srinivasarao for help.

The intervention proved successful. "I immediately spoke with Nikhil Reddy's mother," the MLA told DH. The conversation proved to be a turning point as Nikhil's mother welcomed the prospect of accepting Ramya as her daughter-in-law.

Srinivasarao encouraged Ramya's family and initiated discussions between both households. "The elders of both families spoke very warmly and decided to conduct the children's wedding after the Ashadha month, looking for an auspicious time," the MLA said.

Just four days before the tragedy, Ramya's family extended an invitation to the MLA for their upcoming engagement ceremony. The formal wedding was planned for shortly after the Ashadha month concluded. The couple, it emerged, had already married against their parents' initial wishes but once the families came around, were preparing for a formal ceremony to unite their families.

But instead, both perished in Monday's blast, leaving behind shattered dreams and grieving families who had finally embraced their love.

On Monday morning, as MLA Srinivasarao conducted his constituency programs in Tiruvuru, news of the Sigachi Industries explosion reached him. Panic set in as he realized the couple worked at the same plant.

His frantic attempts to contact first Nikhil, then Ramya, then her sister Jyotsna were met with silence. Television reports confirming that two Andhra Pradesh natives had perished in the blast intensified his fears.

Racing to the accident site by 6 PM, he found Ramya's sister and friends in deep sorrow, having been drenched in rain while waiting for news since morning. Despite consultations with the collector and police officers, no clear information emerged initially.

The grim confirmation came at dawn the next day. Nikhil's former roommate delivered the devastating news "Sir, both of them are no longer with us." Shortly after, Patancheru Hospital confirmed that both bodies had been identified.

"Bearing this great tragedy is very, very difficult for both families," the MLA said while his voice heavy with emotion. "Parents in both families worked very hard to educate their children. By the time the children were about to become successful, a bitter truth that those parents cannot bear remained," he added.