Balasore: A day after Bahanaga locals performed ‘mass mundan’ for 288 people who died in Odisha triple train crash and rapid recovery of those injured, Biswa Shanti Maha Yagna (havan for world peace), Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha (all-faith prayer) and chanting of veda along with 12-hour ‘mantra japa’ began near the accident spot by members of Gayatri families from four districts on Monday.
“People from all communities have been invited for the mass prayer programme,” Jayakrushna Sarangi, a member of the organising committee, told the media.
The Yagna will continue at Bahanaga market until Tuesday. The Muslim community is also offering namaz on the 11th day of the accident. The programme is being organised by Bahanaga-Soro Anchalika Mancha and Balasore Samajika Sanghathan, a local social organisation, with donations and contributions from locals.
As part of the 3-day memorial tribute, 116 locals, volunteers, and social activists on Sunday shaved their heads and observed ‘Dasaha’ programme (to mark the 10th day after death) as per Hindu tradition at a pond near Bahanaga Bazar accident site. People from different walks of life, including representatives of spiritual organisations, also participated in the memorial service held near Bahanaga High School, where bodies were initially kept after being retrieved from the mangled coaches of the trains.
Having rescued hundreds of people from the accident-hit trains and recovered many bodies with the help of rescuers, the locals said that they are conducting the rituals since they regard them as their family members and hope that it will give them peace. “People from different faiths were killed in the accident. We do not know the religion of many of the deceased who are still unidentified. So, it is an all-religion programme and all have invited to participate in the mass prayer,” said Debajyoti Dasmohapatra, another member of the organising committee.
Meanwhile, 75 DNA samples have been collected from the relatives to identify the 81 unclaimed bodies, which are kept in containers at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. These have been sent to New Delhi and bodies will be handed over only after the DNA-matching is completed.
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