Some families which have lost their family members in Gowthami Express fire mishap could not perform their final rites as they are yet to receive the remains of the deceased even after four years.
The disaster took place four years ago, on July 31, at K Sumadram in Warangal district. The railways failed to handover the remains of the deceased to their family members.
The remains of Dr B Ravi Kumar (29), CH Santhi Kumari (30), Yalakkayala Satyanarayana (38), Venna Anantha Lakshmi (58), Satti Chandra Sekhar (25), R Satyanarayana (63), P Gollabbayi (63), PS Prabhavathi (61), NSM Lakshmi (62), Eetakota Mangayamma (23), and Valluri Subramanya Satya Saibaba (35) have been kept at AMG Hospital in Warangal as the railway authorities are unable to establish identities since the bodies have been reduced to cinders.
Speaking to Express, retired commercial tax officer B Chenchaiah of Amalapuram said he is undergoing agony as the mortal remains of his son Dr B Ravi Kumar and daughter-in-law Dr Saritha were not handed over to him. "I met the railway authorities in 2010, but in vain. The officials advised me to participate in a mass ritual, as they are not able to identify what is left of the victims. It is unfortunate that the families are harassed like this," he said.
Meanwhile, after fighting for two years, the families of the victims received some compensation with the intervention of the Human Rights Commission and the High Court. However, the jobs promised by the railways are yet to materialise. The state government too paid its `1 lakh compensation after two years as the revenue department in Warangal district delayed issuing death certificates for the deceased.
Venna Anantha Lakshmi, who was among the deceased. Her brother received death certificate in 2010 after High Court orders.