Odisha train tragedy: Politics intensifies over missing persons and death toll

Even as the frantic search for passengers missing in the Bahanaga train mishap continues, politics over the matter has now intensified in Odisha. The Congress has demanded that the exact death toll in the tragic train mishap should not be suppressed and it should be made available in the public domain.

According to the Congress, there have been several train accidents in the past and the truth has always been put forth before people. But why the present BJP government is trying to suppress it, questioned Congress.

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Congress MLA, Adhiraj Panigrahi said, “People are saying that many facts including death toll are being suppressed. It is not a matter of politics, but several things are not being brought to the public domain.”

According to Panigrahi, “Several locals and Congress teams claim that there are bodies in several bogies and they need to be rescued. The exact death toll should be declared.”

Responding to the Congress, BJP and BJD said that every possible step has been taken for the rescue and treatment of the victims. BJP MLA, Bhudhan Murmu said, “We cannot stop the opposition from making allegations. There could be some mismatch in data, but whatever has been announced is legitimate. There is suspicion that the death toll could rise as there could be some casualties among the injured and some might also be still trapped.”

BJD MLA, Amar Satpathy said, “West Bengal CM has lauded the steps of Odisha government. It is the responsibility of the concerned governments to trace the missing persons. The state government can only say about the bodies identified here.”