Hundreds gathered on Monday to bid a tearful adieu to Allum Kiran Kumar and Chandrasekhar Reddy, who were murdered on the campus of the Louisiana State University Campus in the United States on December 14.

The bodies of the two students were flown into Hyderabad early on Sunday morning, after which they were taken to their respective hometowns.

The friends of both boys told rediff.com it was difficult to console the boys' parents. Others in the family were shell-shocked as they stood and watched the last rites being performed.

While the body of Kiran Kumar was cremated on the banks of the Godavari River in Mancherial, near his hometown Galujapallinear, the last rites of Chandrasekhar were held at a cremation ground in Kurnool town.

Kiran's body was accompanied by his uncle Allum Narayana from Hyderabad. Kiran's father, Allum Rajaiah, who considered his son to be his best friend, seemed the most shaken as he wept inconsolably.

Teachers from Carmel School, where Kiran studied, including principal Sister Rincy, MLA Diwaker Rao and civil rights activist Prof G Haragopal were also present.

The scene was no different at Chandrasekhar's funeral, whose pregnant wife fainted upon seeing his body. The local MLA M A Gafoor and member of Parliament from Kurnool Surya Prakash Kotla were also present.

District administration officials who were present assured the families of all support, even as some of the family members complained about total lack of support from the state government.