Ornaments, belongings help identify bodies

One of the passengers travelling in the Bangalore-Nanded Express was apparently on his way to distribute wedding cards.

The cards, being carried by the deceased, were among the possessions recovered from a partially burnt bag found inside the AC coach.

The cards, of the marriage scheduled for January 19, 2014, read Smitha weds Nikhilaji (in Hindi).

Ornaments and other possessions of passengers charred to death were brought to the city by the Andhra Pradesh police on Monday morning.

The ornaments worn by the deceased also helped the kin and police officials identity three of those awaiting the DNA results for confirming the identity of the bodies.

“We have been able to identify the bodies of S R Krishnamurthy, Anirudh N Kulkarni and Prathap Vinay with the help of these,” said R Sudarshan, Deputy Superintendent Police, Railways.

Most of the baggages were recovered from berth numbers one to eight, according to Sai Prasad, Inspector, Railways (AP).

The family members of those whose death was confirmed by the South Western Railway authorities were asked to come with photographs of the their kin wearing the ornaments as that would help establish the identity.

“We understand that, considering the present situation, it is not very appropriate for us to be asking them for proof,” Sudarshan said. But, they were left with no other choice, so as to avoid legal issues, he added. 

A black colour wildcraft backpack, one red and one grey suitcase, another red backpack with red dupatta in it, a black kit containing children’s bedspreads with books and another red kit bag with sarees were kept for identification at the Victoria
Hospital.