Even as authorities were continuing their probe in to the deadly bus-fire mishap on Bengalore-Hyderabad highway, efforts were being made to identify 41 bodies with the help of DNA test. Assistant Collector Vijayrama Raju said that 28 blood samples were collected for the identification purpose.
“It will take another week for the DNA test results to come. We will provide accommodation facilities for the relatives who have come from remote places”, he said. Badly charred bodies were kept at Osmania Hospital mortuary. One person had come from Gujarat to give blood sample for DNA test. Heart-rending scenes were witnessed as the family members gathered at the forensic lab to give their blood samples to establish which of the badly-charged bodies belonged to their near and dear ones.
Some of them were agitated over the delay in taking their samples and identification of the bodies. State Information Minister DK Aruna visited the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science laboratory in Hyderabad where the DNA tests were being conducted. She told the reporters that bodies will be identified and handed over to the families on the basis of the reports from the lab.
Four bodies were already handed over to the families concerned, she said. One of them Amrinder was cremated at Sancherla village in Karimnagar district on Thursday. Amrinder, who was working at Cape Gemini in Bengaluru was coming home to celebrate Diwali when the bus accident claimed his life. He was married a year ago and his wife Narmada was expecting.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy were among the leaders who met the victims’ families and assured them all the possible assistance. Ramalinga Reddy said the 24 of the victims were from Karnataka.
“Reckless driving by the driver was the cause of the accident”, Ramalinga Reddy told reporters at Osmania Hospital.DK Aruna visited the burns ward at the DRDl-Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad and inquired about the condition of the injured undergoing treatment there. Five passengers, who had survived with burn injuries were brought to the hospital. One of them was stated to be in serious condition.
The Volvo bus, which burst in to flames after hitting a culvert at Palem village in Mehbubnagar district killing 45 people, was registered in the name of Diwakar Roadlines but it was being operated by the Jabbar Travels, Bengaluru, Joint Transport Commissioner Venkateshwarulu said. He said that there was no provision in the Motor Vehicles Act for one travel agency taking a bus on lease from another.
A team of police officials visited the accident site and went through the burnt bus recovering a few items of the passengers including a lap top. They also collected samples of debris to establish where any inflammable material was also being carried in the bus as the intensity of fire has befuddled them.