Odisha train tragedy: All 28 unclaimed bodies cremated by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation

BMC completes cremation of 28 unclaimed bodies of train accident victims. Women volunteers lit funeral pyres, despite not knowing the religion or gender of the deceased. DNA preserved for investigation & legal issues. Process videographed & completed as per govt & NHRC guidelines.

The process for the cremation of 28 unclaimed bodies of people who were killed in thetriple train accident in Odisha's Balasore district four months ago was completed by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 officials said.

The process of cremation of unidentified bodies of the train accident which began on Tuesday evening was completed at about 8 am on Wednesday, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das said.

Ms. Das said women volunteers actively participated in the funeral.

"Women volunteers notwithstanding any stigma came forward and lit funeral pyres of the bodies. They even do not know the religion of the deceased persons or whether the bodies were males or females," the Mayor said.

The bodies had turned ice in the container where they were preserved for above four months, she said, adding that all the bodies were cremated at the Bharatpur crematorium by BMC.

Madhusmita Prusty (37), Smita Mohanty (53) and Swagatika Rao (34) who cremated the first three bodies, said: "We came forward on our own to do this sacred ritual for the unidentified bodies. They might be our relation in some previous lives".

Ms. Rao said that the bodies were beyond recognition and one cannot identify whether they were males or females. "Above all, they were human beings and their last rites are done with dignity," she said.