Balasore train tragedy: NHRC seeks ATR from Odisha Chief Secretary, Railway Board Chairman

Taking cognizance of the deadly Balasore train tragedy that claimed the lives of at least 294 people while over 1175 were injured, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Chairman, Railway Board, Government of India and Odisha Chief Secretary on the alleged violation of human rights of the passengers due to negligence and failure of Railway Authorities.

The Apex Human Rights Panel sought the ATR acting on a petition by Human Rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy who has alleged clumsy and counterproductive efforts to assuage passengers and attempts to cover up the overarching systemic flaws are going on without adequate care for human rights of the victims.

In his petition, Tripathy alleged that the rights of the deceased, injured and other victims are being violated by the State Government and the Railways as the authorities have failed to ensure rights to dead bodies due to lack of adequate space. The dead bodies have not been properly preserved till identification by the family members. As fake claimants are coming forward to stake claim, even compensation to NoK of the deceased victims are pending.

“The dead bodies are still lying for identification. The exact number of deaths is more than the figures declared by the Government. The injured could not be treated properly and were not compensated. Most of the valuables and belongings of the victims are stolen. Some of the volunteers who worked day and night during the critical juncture died and some others are suffering. Few cases of alive persons kept in the storehouse for dead bodies are also noticed. The cases of missing persons from West Bengal, Odisha and other states are yet to be resolved. These are callousness and gross violation of human rights," his petition reads.

He has requested NHRC for preventive, compensatory, and rehabilitating action with some permanent solution to prevent such incidents and urged the Commission to monitor the case till the last victim gets justice.

On the other hand, at least seven railway employees including the station master, traffic inspector and maintainer, have been put under suspension for dereliction of duty. 

"Had they been alert, the tragic train mishap could have been averted," South-Eastern Railway General Manager Anil Kumar Mishra had said.