Odisha train tragedy: Victims’ families allege they are asked to take different bodies 

Tomorrow (June 10), the Bahanaga triple train crash will complete a week. But there is no end to the suffering of the families who have lost their loved ones. The biggest problem they are facing now is to get back the bodies of their near and dead ones. 

After seeing the photo of her dead son, Sabila Mulla, a woman from West Bengal, is presently at AIIMS in Bhubaneswar to claim her son’s body. But to her utter dismay, the authorities are allegedly forcing her to take another body. As of now, the woman is at her wits' end.   

“My son was 23 years old and is survived by his wife and a two-and-half years old child. From the poster of the train mishap victims, I recognised my son. Number nine was assigned to the body. I came from West Bengal to claim my son’s body. But here, the hospital authorities are asking me to take a different body,” alleged Mulla in a choked voice.  

“We belong to the Muslim community, but the body we have been asked to take is that of Bikas, a Hindu name. This apart, the number assigned to Bikas’ body is 111. The number of my son’s body is nine,” she added. 

“I am sure my son’s body was at AIIMS. As they are forcing me to take another body, I doubt they might have handed it over to someone else or thrown it away,” she said. 

“As I was asked, I have given samples for DNA test. They (AIIMS authorities) told me that they will contact me if the DNA samples get matched. I will go back to West Bengal,” she said while tears welling up her eyes. 

Sabila Mulla is not alone in this predicament. There are many such Sabila who are desperately waiting for the bodies of their near and dear ones to have a last look at their faces and do the necessary rituals. 

Surmila Mandi, who came from Huguli, West Bengal, has an identical tale to share. In search of her son-in-law’s body, she reached AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. Even though she has identified her son-in-law’s body from the photo, she was allegedly asked to take another body. 

There are many such people who have camped in this unknown city. The hope of getting the bodies of their near and dear ones has brought them to this capital city. Reaching here, they are facing another problem, they are being asked to take different bodies.