Balasore train tragedy: NHRC seeks Action Taken Report

Taking note of the deadly Balasore train disaster, which killed at least 294 people and injured over 1175, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday requested an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Chairman, Railway Board, Government of India, and Odisha Chief Secretary on the alleged violation of passengers' human rights due to negligence and failure of Railway Authorities.

 

 

 

The Apex Human Rights Panel sought the ATR after receiving a petition from Human Rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, who claimed that clumsy and counterproductive efforts to assuage passengers, as well as attempts to cover up the overarching systemic flaws, are taking place without adequate care for victims' human rights.

 

Tripathy said in his plea that the State Government and the Railways are violating the rights of the deceased, injured, and other victims by failing to ensure rights to dead corpses owing to a lack of suitable space. The remains were not adequately preserved until they were identified by family members. As bogus claimants come forward to establish their claim, reimbursement for the departed victims is still pending.

 

"The bodies are still lying around for identification." The actual number of deaths exceeds the statistics released by the government. The injured were not adequately handled and were not paid. The majority of the victims' assets and property are taken. Some of the volunteers who toiled day and night during the vital period perished, while others are in pain. A few incidences of alive people being detained in the warehouse for dead remains have also been reported. Missing people cases from West Bengal, Odisha, and other states are yet to be resolved. "This is callousness and a flagrant violation of human rights," his petition states.

 

He has asked the NHRC for preventative, compensatory, and rehabilitative measures as well as a permanent solution to avoid such events, and he has asked the Commission to keep an eye on the issue until the last victim receives justice.

 

On the other hand, at least seven railway personnel have been suspended for dereliction of duty, including the station master, traffic inspector, and maintenance.