Harika, the only woman to die in the Escientia explosion

The soft-spoken Harika hails from Kakinada. She attended a municipal school in Kakinada. As a meritorious student, she found a place at IIT Idupulapaya to pursue chemical engineering.

Her father, a mason by profession, died prematurely. Her 10-year-old brother disappeared from home and has not been found yet. She lived with her mother Annapurnamma and grandmother Adilaxmi.

After completing her graduation last year, Harika joined as a trainee chemical engineer at Escientia Advanced Sciences at Atchutapuram SEZ in Rambilli mandal of Anakapalli district in September last year.

She took two days off to appear for an exam. She returned to duty on Wednesday morning. She died in the afternoon in the explosion. Her mother and grandmother were devastated to hear of the tragedy, as were all the residents of the colony in her locality.

His relatives took his body for the last rites before the unions staged a protest at the KGH morgue.