Nanded Express fire: Many died of suffocation

Another passenger undergoing treatment at one of the hospitals said he broke open the window-pane to let the air circulate as people could not breathe due to heavy smoke in the compartment.

One of the relatives of the deceased said he got a phone call from his brother at 3.30 am saying that the AC bogie in which he along with parents, sister and brother-in-law were travelling had caught fire.  

According to the phone call from my brother, there are was no trace of our father and sister, he said adding “We wanted them to travel comfortably thats why booked tickets in an AC coach. We saw them (Brother, father, mother, sister and her husband) off at Bangalore railway station.  “I got a phone call at 3.40 am my saying that the bogie caught fire and my brother, brother-in-law and mother escaped by breaking the window pane. We do not know about my father and sister,” the grieving kin said.  

Dr C Ramasubbarao, DM and HO of Anantapur said they have completed post mortem of bodies, and femur (thighbone) of the deceased would be preserved for DNA tests as some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.  “Bodies will be sent to Victoria Hospital in Bangalore for preservation. DNA tests may take 3 to 4 days,” the official told PTI.

Anantapur SP Senthil Kumar said so far 8 bodies have been identified.