Panna (MP), Jun 7 (PTI) Mortal remains of 25 pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh's Panna district killed in a bus accident in Uttarakhand were consigned to flames on Tuesday in their native villages, a day after their bodies were flown to Khajuraho from the hill state.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Man Rapes ‘Girlfriend’ After Spiking Her Drink in Bhopal; Arrested.

Also Read | Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: CM Pinarayi Vijayan Faces Calls for Resignation Amid Explosive Revelation by Accused Swapna Suresh.

The nature and scale of the tragedy have shaken villagers and kin of the deceased as the sad reality is yet to sink in.

A total of 26 persons, including 25 pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh, died and four others were critically injured on Sunday evening when the bus they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge en route to the Yamunotri temple in Uttarkashi district, according to officials.

The deceased persons hailed from nine villages in the Panna district and a village in the Chhatarpur district, an official said.

Though the mortal remains reached their respective villages late Monday evening, their last rites could not be held as cremation is generally not performed after sunset according to traditions.

The maximum number of eight funerals, including six members of a family, were held in Buddhsinghsanta village, sources said.

Mohandra village saw four funerals and Simaria, Kunarpur, Koni, Udla villages one each. Chikhla and Kakarhata villages witnessed one funeral each, they said.

The last rites of Pavai-based Awdhesh Pande and his wife Shakuntala were performed by their relatives in Prayagraj, sources said, adding that another accident victim was cremated in the neighbouring Chhatarpur district.

Madhya Pradesh BJP president VD Sharma visited all the villages to console the grieving family members.

Panna is part of the Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency represented by Sharma.

Senior officials were also present on the occasion.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)