Govt sanctions Rs 2.49 crore to rebuild Bahanaga school

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Thursday sanctioned Rs 2.49 crore for rebuilding of the Bahanaga High School, which was converted into a temporary mortuary after the June 2 triple-train tragedy.
A portion of the school was razed recently. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has approved the sanction of funds for the school's development from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
On June 9, the government authorities demolished a portion of the high school that was used as a temporary mortuary to keep around 250 bodies train accident victims, before they were shifted to different morgues following appeals from spooked children, teachers and local residents.
Earlier, the CM had asked the Balasore district collector to submit a detailed project plan on the construction of a new school building as a model school under the government's 5T initiative.
A team of senior officers, including the chief secretary interacted with parents, teachers and students at the school and asked for their opinion about the building.
Limbless and headless bodies recovered from the mangled coaches of the two passenger trains immediately after the train accident were kept in the six classrooms and a dining hall of the school located 500 metres from the accident site. Many students and teachers were reluctant to come to school, forcing the district administration to demolish the portion and construct a new one. The school opened on Wednesday after the summer vacation.
On June 12, people of Bahanaga and Soro organised yagnas, prayers and spiritual programmes at Bahanaga High School on 11th and 12th day of the accident.