Authorities in Odisha began tackling the problem of identifying unclaimed bodies of the deceased as the CBI took over the investigation into the Odisha train catastrophe. A preliminary investigation revealed interference with the electronic interlocking system, which detects the presence of trains, and officials assumed “sabotage” was to blame for the accident on Friday. As a result, the central investigation agency was called in.
A 10-person CBI team, which is in Odisha to investigate the triple train tragedy, visited the tracks and signal room at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district on Tuesday. They also spoke with railway authorities.
six officers or more of The Coromandel Express used the loop line rather than the main line, the Indian Express was told, and crashed with a goods train, most likely as a result of ‘tampering of the location box’ close to the Bahanaga Bazar railway station. Over 1,200 people have been hurt as a result of the Coromandel Express’s collision with a goods train and the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, which has already claimed 278 lives.
As over 100 bodies from the tragedy remain unclaimed at various hospitals, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar has begun DNA testing of the claimants. The bodies have now been moved to five containers where they can be stored for a longer duration, an official was cited as saying by PTI. The officer also said that since the bodies can be kept in a container for six months following DNA collection, there should be no rush to dispose of them.
Experts from outside of Odisha have been hired to embalm the bodies so they can be preserved for longer. The process has involved more than 12 anatomy and forensic experts from AIIMS, Nagpur, and Raipur.
Of the 278 dead, 177 bodies have been recognized, and another 101 still need to be, so that their families can receive them. Additionally, according to the Government Railway Police (GRP), 40 bodies exhibited no obvious signs of trauma and were likely electrocuted to death.
Three web links have been created with images of the deceased and lists of passengers admitted to various hospitals in an effort to assist families in finding their accident-affected relatives. The railways urged people to use the following three links: the link for photos of the deceased (https://rcodisha.nic.in/Photos%20Of%20Deceased%20with%20Disclaimer.pdf), the link for lists of passengers receiving medical attention in various hospitals (https://www.bmc.gov.in/train-accident/download/Lists-of-Passengers-Undergoing-Treatment-in-Different In addition to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Helpline number 18003450061/1929, the Railway Helpline number 139 operates around-the-clock to reach travelers’ and friends.