Bhubaneswar Civic Body Undertakes Dignified Disposal of Unclaimed Bodies from Balasore Train Tragedy

In a significant development related to the tragic Balasore train accident that occurred four months ago, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken the initiative to dispose of 28 unclaimed bodies. This move comes after the mishap claimed the lives of 297 individuals in Odisha's Balasore district.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ 

In a significant development related to the tragic Balasore train accident that occurred four months ago, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken the initiative to dispose of 28 unclaimed bodies. This move comes after the mishap claimed the lives of 297 individuals in Odisha's Balasore district.

The BMC has introduced a well-structured StandardOperating Procedure (SOP) for the scientific and dignified disposal of these unidentified bodies, as no rightful claimants were found for them. BMC Mayor Sulochana Das, addressing reporters, stated, "We have issued an SOP for the scientific disposal of the unclaimed bodies of those who were killed in the triple train accident. The bodies will be handed over to the corporation in the presence of CBI officials, and we are planning for the cremation on Tuesday."

This crucial step was initiated following a request from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the agency responsible for probing the train accident, to the Khurda district collector. The bodies had been stored at AIIMS Bhubaneswar since the accident took place in June.

To ensure a seamless transition, BMC officials will coordinate the transportation of the bodies from AIIMS to the cremation grounds at Satyanagar and Bharatpur within the city. The bodies will be officially handed over to the BMC health officer by the AIIMS Bhubaneswar director, adhering to the established rules and guidelines of the state, the Centre, and the National Human Rights Commission for cremation.

Importantly, the entire process will be meticulously documented through video recording, aligning with the SOP issued by the BMC. AIIMS Bhubaneswar had initially received 162 bodies, of which 81 were reunited with their families during the first phase. Subsequently, another 53 bodies were identified through DNA tests. Unfortunately, the remains of 28 individuals remained unclaimed.

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These unclaimed bodies had been stored in specialized deep freezer containers obtained from the Paradip Port Trust. The Balasore train accident involved the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Super Fast Express, and a goods train. The Coromandel Express collided with a stationary goods train, causing extensive derailments and damage.

As the BMC proceeds with the dignified disposal of these unclaimed bodies, this development serves as a poignant reminder of the tragic incident and the importance of providing closure to the victims' families.