Metropolis Desk-
At least 293 people died in a tragic train collision in India one month ago, yet more than 50 bodies are still unaccounted for.
On June 2, a passenger train collision with a stopped goods train resulted in a derailment onto a nearby track in the eastern state of Odisha.
A subsequent passing train struck a few of the toppled coaches.
The catastrophe, the deadliest rail accident in India this century, injured more than a thousand people.
The accident scene has since been cleaned up, but many families claim they are still looking for the bodies of their loved ones, making it difficult for them to find closure.
Shiv Charan, who hails from the eastern state of West Bengal, has been residing in a guest house in the Odisha city of Bhubaneswar for the past month.
The government hospital where the bodies are housed, Aiims, is close by.
In all, 52 bodies have been located and are being kept in a deep freezer. The identification process is made much more difficult for families because some of the bodies are in poor condition.
Mr. Charan frequently visits the hospital in the hopes of discovering his brother Krishra’s body, whom he spoke to just before the accident. But the torturous wait goes on forever.
He claims that thus far, he has only been able to recognize a few of his brother’s garments, and he is still awaiting the results of the DNA test before he can claim them.
Like many others, Mr. Charan provided his DNA samples for testing. The authorities are using this technique to identify bodies so that they go to the correct family when there are several claimants.
According to Mr. Charan, who also told the BBC that he wouldn’t leave without his brother’s remains, “No one has told me when the report will come.” He says, “I want his final rites to be carried out properly.
Another victim, Anzarul Haque, is survived by his wife and three little kids. His wife frequently sobs in front of him at home in West Bengal State while her husband’s body is still missing.
In Bhubaneswar, Haque’s brother and brother-in-law have been camping there while visiting the hospital every day. They have given DNA samples, and now they are awaiting the results.
The BBC was informed by Mohammad Kareem, Haque’s brother-in-law, that “a month has passed and we have not been able to get any information about his body.”
Each day that passes, the family’s hopes of locating the body grow less and less. And a lot of others share the same circumstance.
29 bodies were identified last week using DNA reports, and authorities are now releasing them to the families. In addition, there are 52 bodies whose identities are yet unknown.
According to East Coast Railways’ principal public relations officer, Biswajit Sahu, “they are working cautiously to avoid any error.”
“Identification of next of kin is being done with the help of railway officials, Odisha police, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation officials, and Aiims staff,” the official added.
It will get harder to identify the dead over time, according to the authorities.
Unclaimed bodies are being held for an extended period, and it is being questioned what will happen to them if no one makes a claim. A solution put forth by some is mass cremation.
However, Mr. Sahu asserts that no choice can be made until the DNA testing procedure is complete.
Near Bahanga station in the Balasore area, a terrible railway accident occurred on the evening of June 2.
The two trains were reportedly filled with more than 3,000 passengers each, according to sources.
The investigation into the crash’s causes has been handed to India’s highest federal investigating body.
Source- BBC
