The triple train tragedy at Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore that claimed 288 lives and left over 1000 injured is one of the deadliest train mishaps in Indian Railways history.
While Bahanaga residents are organising a memorial service in remembrance of the train tragedy victims, an artist in Odisha has paid tribute to the victims through his smoke art.
Samarendra Behera, an artist from Mayurbhanj district, has made an art of the horrific train accident using kerosene lamp smoke to pay respect to the victims.
“The triple train crash in Bahanaga is one of the deadliest train mishaps. I made a smoke art as a mark of respect to the train accident victims,” said Behera.
Earlier on Sunday, people from all walks of life congregated at Bahanaga on the 10th day of the train accident to pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and ‘Mukti' (salvation) of 288 who lost their lives in the crash.
Apart from villagers, people who retrieved the bodies and rescued the injured from the ill-fated Coromandel Express and Bengaluru-Howrah trains performed "mundan" (head tonsuring) as per Hindu death rituals.
Moreover, several programmes like ‘Biswa Shanti Maha Yajna’, ‘Astaprahari Nama Sankirtan’, ‘Akhanda Gayatrimantra’ are lined up in Bahanaga on the 11th day today.
Besides, ‘Amrutadhara Satsang’ and 5008 diyas will be offered by Ritambhara International Organisation on the 12th day tomorrow.
Notably, 288 people were killed in the triple train accident involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, which were carrying over 2,500 passengers, and a goods train laden with iron ore on Friday evening at Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore.
As many as 21 coaches were derailed and severely damaged in the accident, trapping hundreds of passengers.