Kendrapara, July 12: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought for Action Taken Reports (ATR) on the alleged violation of human rights of the Passengers of Bahanaga train tragedy due to negligence and failure of Railway Authorities.
Taking cognizance of one of the rarest train accidents in India as narrated by Human Rights activist Radhakant Tripathy, in the petition by the complainant Radhakanta Tripathy, the Apex Human Rights Panel on July 11 last sought the ATR from the Chairman, Railway Board, Government of India and Odisha Chief Secretary..
The accident involving two superfast trains and a goods train took place on June 2 last near Bahanaga Bazar Railway station in Odisha’s Balasore district on June 2 last in which hundreds
had died and over a thousand sustained injuries.
The petitioner alleged that clumsy and counterproductive efforts to assuage passengers and attempts to cover up the overarching systemic flaws are going on without adequate care for human rights of the victims.
In his petition, Tripathy alleged that the rights of deceased, injureds and other victims are being violated as the State Government and the Railway authorities have failed to ensure rights to dead bodies due to lack of adequate space.
Tripathy contended that fake claimants are coming forward to stake claim, even compensation cases to NoK of the deceased victims are pending .
The exact number of deaths are more than the figures declared by the state government, he said, adding that the injured could not be treated properly and not compensated.
Tripathy further stated that most of the valuables and belongings of the victims were stolen.
He requested the NHRC for preventive, compensatory and rehabilitating action with some
permanent solution to prevent such incidents and urged the Commission to monitor the case
till the last victim gets justice.
