88 Bodies Remain Unidentified 5 Days After Odisha Rail Crash; 33 Samples Sent To Delhi For DNA Test

Bhubaneswar: With confusion over identification of bodies of passengers killed in Odisha’s triple train tragedy continuing, 33 samples collected from relatives of the suspected deceased at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar have been sent to Delhi for DNA test.

The test reports will be handed over to the authorities concerned within two days, sources said.

Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das told the media that 88 unclaimed bodies have been kept in four of the five containers at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. “The hospital had received 123 bodies earlier and another 39 last night. Among them, 74 bodies have been despatched. Since the remaining bodies are properly stored in the containers and 2 mortuaries, there are little chances of their further decomposition,” she said.

AIIMS- Bhubaneswar is the only hospital in the state where are unclaimed bodies have been kept. The Railways, earlier in the day, had also urged kin of the deceased to only visit AIIMS-Bhubaneswar to identify the bodies.

Also Read: Railways Asks Kin Of Deceased To Visit AIIMS-Bhubaneswar To Identify Bodies

The Mayor further said that since the bodies have decomposed and are difficult to identify, several claimants are coming forward for a single body while others are lying unclaimed at the premier health institute.  “DNA sampling is the scientific way to identify individuals on the basis of their unique genetic makeup. We have sent 33 samples for DNA test and the reports are expected in a couple of days,” she said.

She added that all efforts are on for hassle-free delivery of bodies to the actual families.

Notably, the Odisha government on Tuesday revised the death toll in the June 2 Balasore train crash, involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and goods train, to 288.

Meanwhile, a CBI probe is underway into the triple train tragedy.