Bhubaneswar: In a tragedy beyond words, 20 passengers travelling in a luxury bus from Hyderabad to Bengaluru were charred to death when the vehicle caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool on Friday morning.
Among those who lost their lives was an Odisha youth.
He has been identified as Kengua Deepak Kumar, a software engineer from Ambadala village, under Muniguda block in Rayagada district.
According to reports, Deepak was employed as a software engineer in Bengaluru, and was returning from Hyderabad where he visited his sister.
He boarded a private sleeper coach bus on Thursday night. Unfortunately, the bus hit a motor cycle when most of the 42 people on board were sleeping. The fire started from the fuel tank of the two-wheeler, which got trapped under the bus. Sparks quickly flew, and in no time ignited the bus’ fuel tank and set it ablaze.
With many of the victims being charred beyond recognition, DNA tests were carried out, which confirmed Deepak’s identity.
His family members have reached Kurnool, where his body will be handed over after 48 hours.
As a pall of gloom descended on Deepak’s family and the village, his parents were inconsolable, having lost their only son.
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The motorcyclist died on the spot, while 21 persons, including the driver and his assistant, managed to escape the blaze.
Eleven bodies have been identified so, and efforts are underway to confirm the remaining victims’ identities.
