Even after 25 days of Balasore accident, 81 bodies were not identified, 60 bodies were kept in containers by putting chemicals, many claimants of one body

‘I have been searching for my son since 25 days. Went to Tirupati with friends. Was returning home by Bangalore-Howrah Express. At 8 o’clock in the night of June 2, it was learned that the train had met with an accident. Someone called from the hospital and told that he is in the hospital in Cuttack. Reached the hospital, but did not find the son. Then went to Bhubaneswar, came to know that someone else had taken his dead body to Bihar. The last rites have also been performed.

Srikanto Rai tells the whole thing in one go while showing the photo of the son in the mobile. Son’s marriage was 15 days after the date of the accident. Had this not happened, they would have got married, but now they are worried about the son’s dead body.

Srikanto is not alone. Of the 292 people killed in the train accident in Odisha’s Balasore on June 2, 81 are yet to be identified. Their bodies are kept at the AIIMS campus in Bhubaneswar. There was no space in the mortuary, so 60 bodies have been kept in containers. Their DNA samples have been sent to Delhi. It has been more than 25 days, but the report has not come. Reason- Most people used to eat tobacco, due to the layer of tobacco on the teeth, there is a problem in extracting their tissue.

All the dead bodies have been preserved in the campus of Bhubaneswar AIIMS. Many people are claiming that they have identified the body from marks or clothes, but the DNA report is awaited, till then they cannot find the body.

After the accident, Bhaskar did ground reports from Bahanaga Bazar Station, Balasore District Hospital and Bhubaneswar AIIMS. On July 2, one month of the accident will be completed. That’s why we reached the same places again and saw the condition of the families of the deceased, the accident site and the investigation.

Welcome center closed for victims, CBI questions and answers before inquiry
First of all we reached the Education Block of Bhubaneswar AIIMS. Since June 5, the unidentified dead bodies were kept here in different AC halls. At that time, a welcome center was made in the outer part of the building, where the photos of those who died were being displayed. There was a gathering of media outside.

Now this place is silent. The Welcome Center is closed. Only a guard and a soldier of Odisha Police were seen here. Stopped us after seeing the camera. The guard went inside, when he returned, a woman was with him. He is in charge here. Asked us some questions and took us to the conference room. A CBI officer was sitting there. Only CBI is investigating the case.

The officer asked the purpose of our visit and asked us to leave after some time. Meanwhile, we came to know that now the task of getting the dead bodies identified has also been given to the CBI. When someone comes in search of a dead body, the CBI people first inquire. Then their DNA sample is taken.

162 dead bodies were brought to AIIMS, 81 identified
To understand why the DNA of the dead is being taken, we went to meet the director of AIIMS, Ashutosh Biswas, at his office. When he could not find them, he contacted Rajkishore Das, Public Relations Officer of the hospital.

He told, ‘After the accident, 162 bodies were brought to AIIMS. Of these, 81 have been identified. He has been handed over to the family. DNA samples of 84 people have been taken for the remaining 81. After his report comes from Delhi, he will be able to give the dead body to his family.

Dead body kept in three special containers, can be kept safe for 6 months
Now the question was why the DNA report has not come even after 25 days? Where are the 81 bodies kept? Won’t they spoil if kept for a long time?

Rajkishore replies, ‘It was very difficult to preserve so many bodies. Chemicals like formalin, spirit, glycerin and carbolic acid have been injected into the dead body to keep it safe. Due to this, the bacteria, virus and fungus present inside the dead bodies die and cannot grow again. Due to this the body does not rot from inside and it can be kept in the freezer for a long time.

He told that ‘A maximum of 30 bodies can be kept safely in AIIMS. So we have kept the bodies in 3 special containers and in the mortuary. These containers are standing in the campus itself. In these, more than 60 dead bodies have been preserved through automatic ice system. There is 24-hour electricity supply in these, there is a generator for backup. In this, the dead body can be kept for about 6 months. That’s why even today the dead bodies are in safe condition.

Are people still coming in search of their loved ones? Rajkishore says, ‘About 75 DNA samples were collected in the initial two-three days. Then people stopped coming. That’s why the Welcome Center was closed. However, some people still sit here. Full help is being given to those who come.

Rajkishore told, ‘We have sent 84 DNA samples for examination in 3 phases. Usually it takes 30 to 40 days for the report to arrive. In special cases, the report also comes quickly. 5 people have come here to claim one body, due to multiple claimers there is also a problem. The matter is very sensitive, so we cannot make any mistake. That’s why it is taking time.

DNA report delayed due to tobacco
On the question of delay in getting the report of DNA sample, Rajkishore quoted an AIIMS doctor as saying that most of the people boarding this train were from Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. He used to eat tobacco. Many people’s teeth have been sent for DNA samples, there is a problem in extracting the tissue due to the layer of tobacco in them. First they were cleaned, then the tissue was removed and sent for sequencing. After this it has been sent for sampling. Because of this the final report is taking time.

Railways accommodated those who gave DNA samples in the guest house, but are not telling their address
In AIIMS itself, we came to know that the Railways has made arrangements for food and accommodation for the people who came for DNA. However, in which guest house he is in Bhubaneswar, neither any railway official nor the AIIMS administration told his address. After a day’s investigation, we came to know that it is an isolated guest house about 700 meters away from AIIMS. Name Radhe Shyam Guest House.