Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) today issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding the disposal of the 28 unidentified dead bodies of Bahanaga train tragedy victims.
Speaking to reporters here, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Sulochona Das said that they are prepared to dispose of the unclaimed bodies and they have informed their decision to the authorities of the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
“However, we have to wait for a day or two to dispose of the bodies as the AIIMS authorities will hand them over to us in the presence of a CBI representative,” she said.
It is worth mentioning here that the CBI is currently investigating the triple train tragedy that killed over 290 persons.
The Mayor informed that the unclaimed bodies would be cremated at Bharatpur crematoriums.
The BMC has decided to provide two to three dead body carriers for the smooth transportation of bodies from AIIMS to the cremation ground.
“The Director, AIIMS shall hand over the 28 unidentified dead bodies lying in the mortuary of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar to the Health Officer, BMC following existing rules, procedures, rituals, guidelines of State/Central Government and NHRC for cremation of the bodies,” read the SOP.
The BMC Health Officer will receive the dead bodies at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar and maintain records of the same. Communication expert of the civic body will make videography starting from receiving of the dead bodies at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar till cremation of bodies for record purpose and submit it to the authority.
The Assistant Health Officer, BMC will receive the dead bodies at cremation ground at Bharatpur and maintain records of the bodies. Adequate manpower will be deployed for smooth cremation of the bodies under the direct supervision of cremation in-charge officer.
All 28 bodies are preserved in special containers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar.
According to the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, authorities, 81 bodies were stored in the special containers and there were 110 claimants for them. As of date, 53 bodies have been handed over to the relatives of the deceased after matching their DNA samples. However, there were no claimants for 28 bodies.
The tragic train mishap involving Coromandel Express, Yashwantpur-Howrah Express and a Goods train occurred at Bahanaga Bazar on June 2, 2023. Over 290 people were killed in the tragic train accident.