Odisha Train Accident / CBI begins probe into train accident, 101 bodies yet to be identified

Odisha Train Accident: The Central Investigation Agency CBI has started the investigation of the Balasore train accident in Odisha. A 10-member CBI team visited the spot on Monday and started investigating the accident. On Sunday, the Railway Board had recommended the CBI to investigate this painful train accident. After the incident, on June 3, the Railway Police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Railway Act.

DRM Rintesh Ray of Khurda Road Division of East Coast Railway Zone said that according to his information CBI investigation has started, however, the details are not yet known. Before the CBI team, Railway Safety Commissioner Shailesh Kumar Pathak had also visited the spot. Pathak also visited the control room, signal room and signal point of Bahnaga Bazar railway station.

Out of about 1100 passengers injured in the accident, 900 people have been discharged from the hospital after treatment. About 200 people are undergoing treatment in different hospitals of Odisha. At the same time, out of 278 people who lost their lives in the incident, 177 bodies have been identified while 101 bodies are yet to be identified. These dead bodies have been kept in different mortuary including Bhubaneswar.

80 dead bodies identified in Bhubaneswar alone

Talking about Bhubaneswar only, a total of 193 dead bodies were kept here. Out of this, 80 dead bodies have been identified. Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Vijay Amrit Kulange has said that 55 bodies have been handed over to the relatives. So far, more than 200 calls have been received on the helpline number 1929 issued by BMC. After identifying the dead bodies, they are being handed over to the relatives.

DNA test being done on many dead bodies

Now as the relatives of the dead are contacting the railway or local authorities, the dead bodies are being identified and they are being handed over to the family. There are some bodies among the dead which have been mutilated, in such a way these bodies are being identified through DNA and being handed over to the family members.

This painful accident happened in Balasore on Friday evening when Coromandel Express derailed and collided with goods train and Yesvantpur Express. The accident was so terrible that many bogies were blown away. Most of the dead and injured were passengers of the Coromandel Express. After the accident, the injured were admitted for treatment in different districts of Odisha, while the dead bodies have been kept in the mortuary.

Trains started operating on the route from Sunday itself

Within about 51 hours after the accident, the operation of trains on the route has also started from Sunday night itself. Both the up and down lines have been fixed. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav himself was present at the spot for three days and was closely monitoring the relief and rescue work.