Odisha Train Accident: DNA Profiling Identifies 29 Victims

Bhubaneswar: As many as 29 victims will receive the bodies of their kin who lost their lives nearly a month after the horrific three-train accident near Bahanga Bazar railway station in Balasore district on June 2.

According to reports, the DNA tests have been successful in identifying 29 bodies and they will be handed over to their families.

While the bodies of 290 victims were handed to their families after identification, 81 bodies were so mutilated that they could not be identified. Though they are still stored at Bhubaneswar-AIIMS, their DNA samples were cross-matched with people who were yet to find the bodies of their relatives and friends. Incidentally, there was more than one claimant for 15 bodies.

Initially, the Odisha government uploaded photographs of the dead on various government websites – https://srcodisha.nic.in, https://www.bmc.gov.in, and https://www.osdma.org. Later, the government decided to go for DNA profiling of the dead as some bodies were claimed by more than one family who was allegedly keen to receive the Rs 15 lakh ex-gratia payment from the Centre and state.