Police identify all seven Unnao van blaze victims

Kanpur: Police on Monday have identified the seven deceased, who were burnt alive following a collision of their van with a truck on Unnao-Hardoi road near Bangarmau toll plaza in Unnao district on Sunday.
They have been identified as Shambhu, Himanshu, Amit Mishra, Kallu, Khajan Singh, Ankit Bajpayee and Bal Krishna.
SP Unnao Vikrant Vir Singh said that preliminary investigations have shown that the accident took place when one of the tyres of the speeding van burst, the vehicle veered to the left and caught fire after hitting a truck in another lane. The CNG kit installed in the van caught fire.
Police said that the family members of the deceased had a tough time identifying their bodies.
"DNA sampling would be done to identify the bodies which have been completely charred and beyond recognition," the SP said.
Police said that as per the kin, Shambhu, Himanshu, Amit Mishra, Kallu, Khajan Singh and Bal Krishna, were relatives and residents of Unnao who were on way to Shahjahanpur to attend a marriage function.
They had booked a van belonging to one Ankit Bajpayee of Kalyani Devi locality of Unnao. "Ankit was on the wheels when the accident took place," the police further said.