KARIMNAGAR: AT last, the family members of cattle traders, who were washed away in a stream during floods 29 years ago, will be able to lay their dear ones to rest as per rituals. Revenue and police officials have been trying to excavate the bodies of the dead persons from the stream for the past two days at Irrukulla Vaagu (stream) on the outskirts of Karimnagar. During heavy floods that occurred in Karimangar way back in 1989, cattle traders Dowlath Khan and Mukdum Khan belonging to Shankarapatnam mandal, and Katika Shankar and Venkata Swamy of Karimnagar while returning from Peddapalli were washed away in the floods along with the lorry in which they were travelling.
The mishap occurred while crossing a bridge at Irrukulla stream. Relatives of the deceased lost hope of getting the bodies after searching for years together. Surprisingly, a week ago, the remains of a lorry cabin surfaced in the stream, when some locals were quarrying for sand. The news reached the kin of the dead, who were washed away in the floods. On their request, the revenue officials launched excavation work at the site on Friday. After digging the earth, authorities were able to pull out the remains of the lorry cabin buried deep in the sand.
The mortal remains of two persons also have been exhumed. Surprisingly, the dress wore by the two dead persons was not damaged. Based on the type and colour of the dress, relatives of deceased recognised them as that of Dowlath Khan and Mukdum Khan. The daughter of one the deceased said, “I was three-year old when my father was washed way in floods. After some days, my mother also died. After the demise of my parents, my maternal aunt raised me.
Now, I am married. I am happy that, at last, my father’s remains were found.” Proclainer machines and earth movers are being used to exhume the remains of the dead. Karimnagar rural in-charge tahsildar V Vinod Rao said that excavation of sand would continue till the remains of other two persons are found. After conducting DNA tests, the remains would be handed over to the kin of the dead.