Family members wait for the bodies outside the morgue. (Anirban Choudhury)

Alipurduar, May 15: The bodies of 11 people, who died in yesterday’s car crash, was released more than 24 hours after they were identified, sparking discontent among family members.

Andrias Oraon, along with his family and close friends, was on his way to fix the wedding date of his daughter Kiski when the Maruti Omni in which they were travelling collided with a speeding mini-bus coming from the opposite direction at Uttar Mendabari, 27km from here.

The Maruti van burst into flames and all its passengers were killed, six of them probably burnt alive.

Kiski, who was told of the tragedy late last night, has been inconsolable since, said Pratap Kujur, her maternal uncle.

Besides her parents, Kiski has lost one of her sisters and three aunts. Pratap said the family had identified the bodies by 2pm yesterday, but they were brought to Alipurduar Hospital for post-mortem around 2.30pm today. “As it is we were shocked by the tragedy and then we had to wait for so long. How can the authorities be so indifferent,” he said.

The bodies covered with CPM flags were taken to the Oraon residence in Amarpur-Jaydebpur in Kumargram, 65km from here, by party supporters in a long procession. “Andrias was a member of the CPM, so we will show him and his family due respect,” said Pintu Ganguly, a member of the Kumargram zonal committee of the party.

Pittus Oraon (not Pittus Toppo as reported yesterday), whose son Munna’s marriage to Kiski had been fixed, visited her at Amarpur. “My son is ready to marry Kiski. If her family members are willing, there will be no problem. We have come here to console Kiski,” Pittus said.

Pratap said he was worried about Kiski and her siblings because no earning member was left in the family. “Rajesh (Kiski’s brother) works in the field and studies as well. Antalika is only 14. Currently, we are not thinking about the marriage, not till the funeral at least,” said Pratap.