Musician twin sisters united in death too

These twin sisters were united not only in birth but even in death.

Sisters Padmini and Lalita, both aged 61 years and well-known musicians, were among the 26 passengers who were burnt alive when fire broke out in the AC coach of  Bangalore-Nanded Express on Saturday morning.

After the victims’ bodies were brought to the Victoria Hospital, Gayatri, the elder sister of the twins, identified their bodies by their ornaments, said their relative Harish Babu. The two are among the nine victims whose identity has been established so far. The sisters, who are Carnatic music vocalists and Veena players, were on their way to Raichur to perform at a concert at an ashram on Sunday. However, Padmini’s husband Narahari Rao, 63, who was accompanying them, had a miraculous escape. When the fire broke out, Rao was in the toilet while the sisters were asleep. On noticing the flames, Rao jumped to safety, Babu said, quoting his relative.

While Padmini was a resident of Kengeri Satellite Town, Lalita lived in Rajarajeshwarinagar. The two sisters are natives of Mysore.