Indian techie killed in Brussels terror attack

Bengaluru/New Delhi, March 28  India-born techie Raghavendran Ganeshan, who went missing after the March 22 terror strikes in Brussels, died in the attack on a metro station, the external affairs ministry and software major Infosys said on Monday. The ministry said the body would be flown to India Monday night or Tuesday morning.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said late on Monday night: "The Belgian authorities have identified Raghavendran as one of the victims of the barbaric terror attacks of March 22."

"If they are able to make it, the body accompanied by family would be on a flight from Amsterdam to Chennai via the Gulf tonight (Monday night) or tomorrow (Tuesday) morning with Jet (Airways) to India," he added.

In a statement issued in Bengaluru, the IT major said: "It is with deep regret that we confirm the passing of our colleague Raghavendran Ganeshan in the terrible attack in Brussels."

The 28-year-old techie was said to be in a metro train on March 22 when the Maelbeek metro station in the Belgian capital was rocked by an explosion, in which at least 20 people died and many were injured.

Offering her "heartfelt condolences" to the bereaved family, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that his mortal remains were being handed over to the family in Brussels.

"I am deeply pained to inform that Brussels authorities hv identified Raghavendran as one of the victims of terror blasts in Brussels. Unfortunately, he was travelling in the same coach of the metro in which the suicide bomber blew himself up," she posted.

Sushma Swaraj had tweeted on March 23 that Ganeshan's last phone call was traced to the metro in which he was travelling when terror struck the main metro station in that city.

The Infosys statement noted: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Ganeshan's family and those who were injured or lost a loved one in the terror attacks."

"We will continue to provide all possible support to Ganeshan's family in this hour of grief and request the privacy of his family during this difficult time," it added.

The company learnt from a tweet Sushma Swaraj posted on March 22 that she spoke to Ganeshan's mother Annapoorni and assured her of all help in tracing her son then.

It is also learnt that Ganeshan spoke to his mother in India an hour before blasts ripped the Brussels airport and the metro rail station.