Odisha govt sends mortal remains of 78 Balasore train accident victims to Bihar, West Bengal

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has so far facilitated free transport of the mortal remains of 78 people, who died in the Bahanaga train tragedy, to their native places in Bihar and West Bengal. The government arranged the ambulances for the families to take the bodies of their loved ones back home to perform their last rites.
“We have so far arranged free ambulances to facilitate transport of 43 bodies to their native places in West Bengal and 35 to Bihar. One ambulance was used to transport each body along with their family members/relatives. We also ensured transport of 6 bodies in ambulances to different districts inside Odisha,” state transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur said.
Of the 288 who died in the horrifying tragedy on June 2, identities of 205 bodies have so far been ascertained. The government said it is not just arranging the last journey of the mortal remains free of cost, but also offering free accommodation to those who have come from other states to claim the bodies.
The transport department said a large number of survivors, including 47 children, who were rescued from the Bahanaga accident site, were sent to Bihar free of cost.
As many as 4,812 passengers, who were stranded at different places following disruptions in the movement of trains on Kolkata route in view of the accident, have so far been transported free of cost to West Bengal by 105 buses from Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the transport department said.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik earlier announced the free bus service for the stranded passengers to West Bengal after several buses were found fleecing them during the crisis.
“We mobilised 126 buses and transported over 6,300 passengers to different routes within the state from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack railway stations. Help desks have been set up for assistance at the bus stands and railway stations of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Funds were sanctioned in respect of RTOs (Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri) for free transport of stranded passengers, another transport official said.