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Kurnool Bus Tragedy: 10 Victims Identified Through DNA Amid Grief

The forensic team at Kurnool Medical College has successfully identified 10 victims through DNA testing. Dr Brahmaji confirmed the handover process began after receiving the test results. Police have identified the biker involved as Shiva Shankar, who died in the collision. Political criticism mounts as BRS leaders blame government negligence for the tragedy.

Key Points: Kurnool Bus Accident DNA Tests Identify 10 Victims

  • Ten bodies handed over to families after DNA confirmation completed
  • Nine bodies remain awaiting identification and family arrival
  • Biker Shiva Shankar and pillion Erri Swami identified in fatal collision
  • BRS MLC criticizes government negligence in tragic bus accident
2 min read

Kurnool bus tragedy: 10 bodies handed over to families of victims after DNA testing

Forensic team hands over 10 bodies after DNA confirmation in Kurnool bus tragedy that killed 19. Investigation reveals biker details as political criticism mounts.

"After receiving the DNA test report, we started handing over the bodies today - Dr Brahmaji"

Kurnool, October 26

Ten out of the 19 bodies in the Kurnool bus tragedy have been handed over to the families of the victims, Dr Brahmaji, forensic professor at Kurnool Medical College, said on Sunday.

The bodies were handed over after Dr Brahmaji and his team received the DNA test reports of the victims.

He told ANI, "Yesterday, my team and I visited the spot. We sent samples for DNA testing. After receiving the DNA test report, we started handing over the bodies today. So far, we have handed over 10 bodies, and nine are still there. The relatives will arrive shortly, and we will hand over the bodies to them."

A Bengaluru-bound bus from Hyderabad caught fire after a fatal collision with a bike in Chinnatekur near the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh on National Highway (NH) 44 in the early hours of Friday, leaving 19 people dead.

Earlier on Saturday, Kurnool Police identified the alleged biker riding with a pillion rider involved in the mishap. The biker was identified as Shiva Shankar, who was killed in the accident. The pillion rider was identified as Erri Swami.

"As part of the investigation into the bus accident that occurred on Friday (24.10.2025) near Chinna Tekuru in Kurnool district, it has been identified that the person who died in the bike accident was Shiva Shankar, and the pillion rider was Erri Swami @ Nani," said Superintendent of Police, Vikranth Patil.

Police took Erri Swami into custody and interrogated him from multiple angles.

"Both Erri Swami and Shiva Shankar had left Lakshmipuram village around 2:00 am after midnight. Shiva Shankar was taking Erri Swami to his native place, Tuggali," said the SP.

During the investigation, it was found out that on their way, they stopped at a petrol pump located near the car showroom and filled petrol worth Rs 300 at around 2:24 am. After refuelling, they proceeded towards Tuggali.

Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Dasoju Sravan had criticised the state government over its alleged negligence following the recent bus accident involving a Kaveri Travels vehicle in Kurnool.

Speaking to ANI, the BRS MLC called the incident in which 19 people, including two minors, were killed, the "callousness of the ruling government".

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Why are bikes allowed on highways at 2 AM? This is a serious safety concern. Both the biker and pillion rider lost their lives too, but 19 innocent bus passengers paid the ultimate price. NH-44 needs better traffic management and night restrictions for two-wheelers.
S
Sarah B
As someone who frequently travels between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, this is terrifying. The government needs to address highway safety urgently. Better lighting, speed breakers, and regular patrols could prevent such tragedies.
A
Aditya G
While I appreciate the forensic team's work, why did it take so long for DNA testing? In such tragic circumstances, families deserve quicker closure. The system needs to be more efficient during emergencies.
M
Meera T
My deepest condolences to all the families 🙏 Two minors lost their lives - this is beyond tragic. Hope the government provides adequate compensation and support to the affected families. No amount of money can replace their loved ones, but it can help them rebuild their lives.
K
Karthik V
The police investigation seems thorough - tracking their movements from 2 AM, petrol pump stop, everything. Hope this leads to better safety protocols. Travel companies should also ensure their drivers are well-trained for night driving conditions.

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