Manisha Somani and (above) a deserted Upper Bazar area in Ranchi where she lived. (Hardeep Singh)

Ranchi, May 31: The horror of the Jnaneswari Express mishap hit the state capital today as bodies of three victims arrived for their last rites.

Businessman Mahaveer Somani, a resident of Deenbandhu Lane in Upper Bazaar, lost his daughter-in-law Manisha (30), grandson Mridul (3) and granddaughter Guriya (18 months) in the train crash. The three had gone to visit Manisha’s parents in Calcutta and were on their way to Raipur when fate struck.

While Manisha and Guriya’s bodies arrived today, that of Mridul was yet to be identified. The children’s father, Mahesh, was at the spot for a DNA test which would help in identification.

The third body which was brought to the city today was that of Santosh Sharma (35), a resident of High Tension Colony at Namkum. Sharma owned a computer centre and an advertising agency in the area and was the sole earning member in a family of eight.

Sources said Sharma took the ill-fated train to return home after he missed the Howrah-Hatia train. He had gone to Delhi on work and was returning to Ranchi via Calcutta. His family members identified him from the clothes he was wearing.

A pall of gloom descended on the localities where the victims lived as hundreds gathered to take part in the funeral processions.

Talking to The Telegraph, Mahaveer said his only concern was to locate his grandson’s body. He accused the railway authorities of trying to hide their failures instead of helping the families of victims locate their loved ones.