In a tragic conclusion to a harrowing three-day wait, the Chitradurga police on Sunday finally handed over the bodies of victims who were charred beyond recognition in a devastating road accident. The horrific incident, which occurred on National Highway 48, claimed at least six lives and left more than 25 people with injuries.
A Midnight Collision Leads to Tragedy
The sequence of events that led to the disaster unfolded around midnight on December 26. A private passenger bus collided with a container truck near the HP petrol pump at Javanagondanahalli on NH-48. The impact was severe, causing the bus to catch fire almost immediately. The inferno that followed was so intense that it charred several passengers inside the bus.
While the container lorry driver, identified as Kuldeep Yadav, was named on the day of the accident, a grim challenge remained. Five passengers inside the bus were burned so severely that their family members could not identify them. This left authorities with the difficult task of determining the identities of the deceased through scientific means.
The Long Wait for Identification Through DNA
With visual identification impossible, the Chitradurga police turned to forensic science. They collected samples from the remains and sent them for DNA testing. The anxious families had to endure an agonizing wait for the results, which were received only on Sunday, three days after the fatal crash.
The DNA reports provided closure, putting names to the victims. The deceased were identified as:
- Bindu, 29, and her young daughter Greya, 5
- Manasa, 27
- Navya, 26
- Rashmi, 24
The sixth victim, who died in the collision, was presumably identified earlier.
Closure for Grieving Families
Upon receiving the DNA confirmation, the police proceeded with the final formalities. The bodies were handed over to the respective family members, allowing them to perform the last rites. In a compassionate gesture, the police also returned any jewellery found on the bodies to the grieving relatives.
The families, having received the remains, subsequently buried their loved ones, bringing a painful chapter to a close. The incident has once again cast a spotlight on the critical issue of road safety on India's national highways, particularly concerning nighttime travel and the dangers of collisions involving heavy vehicles.
The Chitradurga police continue their investigation into the exact cause of the collision between the bus and the container truck on NH-48, which resulted in one of the region's most fatal accidents in recent times.
