Last Updated: October 09, 2023, 09:27 IST
The Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary goods train, derailing most of its coaches on June 2. (Image: PTI/File)
The unclaimed bodies were kept in the AIIMS Bhubaneswar since the accident occurred in June in at least five deep freezer containers procured from the Paradip Port Trust
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that it would cremate the bodies of all 28 unidentified people, who lost their lives in the fateful Balasore train crash over four months ago as their rightful claimants were not found. The cremation is likely to take place on Tuesday.
In order to successfully cremate the bodies, the civic body issued a standard operating procedure for scientifically disposing of the human remains, PTI reported.
The bodies were kept in the AIIMS Bhubaneswar since the accident occurred in June in at least five deep freezer containers procured from the Paradip Port Trust.
The BMC also decided to make arrangements for smooth transportation of the bodies from AIIMS to the cremation ground at Satyanagar and Bharatpur in the city, an official said. AIIMS Bhubaneswar director will officially hand over the bodies to the BMC health officer following the existing rules and guidelines of the state, the Centre, and the National Human Rights Commission for cremation of the bodies.
As far as the procedure is concerned, the civic body said that the bodies will be handed over to the corporation in the presence of CBI officials.
According to sources, CBI, which is investigating the deadly Balasore train accident that killed more than 280 people, requested BMC to scientifically dispose of these bodies.
Cremation Process to Be Videographed
According to the SOP issued by the BMC, the entire process will be video-graphed.
“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,” BMC Mayor Sulochana Das told PTI.
After the crash, the AIIMS Bhubaneswar received 162 bodies, out of which 81 were handed over to the family members of the deceased in the first phase.
Later, another 53 bodies were given to the family members following DNA tests but the remains of 28 others remained unclaimed, the official said.
The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Super Fast Express crashed into a stationary goods train, derailing most of its coaches around 7 pm on June 2 near the Bahanaga Bazar station killing more than 280 people.