Rail Tragedy: No Intention To Hide Deaths, Odisha Govt Says Amid Allegations Of Manipulated Figure

Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena on Monday reacted to allegations that the death toll figure was being manipulated and said that Odisha believes in transparency, reported PTI.

Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena on Monday reacted to allegations that the death toll figure was being manipulated

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Odisha government doesn't intend to hide the number of deaths in the tragic Balasore train crash and the entire rescue operation was being conducted in full public view.

Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena on Monday reacted to allegations that the death toll figure was being manipulated and said that Odisha believes in transparency, reported PTI.

"Media persons are very much present at the accident site since the beginning. Everything is being done in the presence of cameras," he said.

He added, "The railways had stated the death toll as 288. We also said that, and the figure was based on information from the railways. But, our Balasore District Collector has verified the death toll, and the figure was 275 till 10 am of Sunday."

Regarding the change in the toll, Jena said it was due to the double counting of some bodies, according to PTI.

The chief secretary said there was also no prohibition on the entry of media persons at the accident site. "The rescue and even restoration activities went on in full public view," he said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the death figures, stating that 61 people from her state were dead and 182 were still missing.

"If from one state, 182 are missing and 61 are confirmed dead, then where would the figures stand?" she asked, addressing a press conference.

Railway Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw refused to take any questions from journalists in connection with Banerjee's allegation.

The chief secretary said that out of the 275 dead bodies, only 108 have been identified so far.

He said the state would like all the bodies to be identified so that those could be cremated by their families.

"Keeping in view the prevailing hot weather, the bodies are decomposing fast. Therefore, the state can maximum wait for two more days before disposing of them as per the law," he said. 

The triple train accident that took place on Friday involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express, and a goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district.