Kurnool: The mass burial of the 16 Veldurthi bus accident victims took place at Ramapuram in Jogulamba Gadwal district. The grief-stricken families of the deceased along with hundreds of residents gathered at the funeral grounds to pay their last respects.
The last rites of the victims were performed in the presence of the district authorities.
Alampur MLA Abraham, Gadwal former MLA D.K. Aruna, former MP Manda Jagannadham, Congress leader Sampath Kumar were present at the site.
The Kurnool General Hospital was besieged on Sunday morning by rights activists including Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti leader Manda Krishna Madiga, demanding ex gratia to the next kin of the deceased. The dispatch of dead bodies from the mortuary was delayed by three hours due to the agitating leaders. They demanded Rs 10 lakh ex gratia, three acres of land and a double bedroom house to the families of each of the deceased.
Sixteen people were killed in a road accident on Saturday evening at Veldurthi crossroads when a Benguluru-bound bus hit a multi utility vehicle coming from Guntakal in the opposite direction, killing 13 persons instantly including the motorcycle rider, a 15-year-old. Two more succumbed while undergoing treatment at the Kurnool General Hospital, doctors said.
It was a heart-rending scene at Ramapuram on Sunday afternoon when the bodies were lowered into the pits dug serially. Villagers were seen cursing the gods for bringing such misery into their lives. Villager Kondalanna said that there were 32 houses in our colony. We have lost 15 in the accident. Half of the colony is empty now, he said.
