Twenty bodies identified in Andhra Pradesh train tragedy

Bangalore, Dec 29: A day after 26 people were charred to

in a devastating fire in a

near Puttaparthy in

, as many as 20

were identified and eight of them have been handed over to relatives.

"The bodies of 20 people, who were charred to death in a devastating fire in Bangalore-Nanded Express train, have been identified. Of the 20 bodies identified, eight have been handed over to relatives," Railways Commercial Manager Ramesh told PTI here.

The unidentified bodies have been sent for DNA test, Ramesh said.

The unidentified bodies have been sent for DNA test.

"These tests take a minimum of 48 hours or more, depending upon doctors. We request the families of the deceased to come forward for identifying the bodies charred in the train mishap," he said.

The bodies were brought to government-run Victoria Hospital here yesterday evening. Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for simple injuries.

This was the second train mishap in Anantapur district after last year's train tragedy in March in which 25 passengers were killed near Penukonda when the Bangalore-bound Hampi Express rammed into a stationary goods train after the driver apparently overshot the signal near the station.

A devastating fire had ripped through an AC coach of the Bangalore-Nanded Express train, charring to death 26 people, including two children, in sleep and leaving 13 others injured yesterday near Puttaparthy.

PTI