Odisha train crash: School used as morgue for train crash victims razed as students refuse to return
Aschool in Odisha’s Bahanaga turned into a makeshift morgue to keep the bodies of those killed in the horrific three-train crash has been razed after students said they “can’t forget the scary images of those bodies scattered all over our school premises”.
“Our school was full of bodies. We just can’t forget the scary images of those bodies scattered all over our school premises. Almost all the bodies were headless and limbless. Even entrails were visible,” said a student of Bahanaga High School, which was used as a makeshift morgue following the accident that killed 288 people.
Wary of the ghosts of the dead, the students and parents of the government school refused to resume classes and the 65-year-old school building was demolished today.
The school managing committee (SMC) requested the Odisha government to demolish the building, saying it was old and not safe and that the students were reluctant to attend classes in the school where bodies were kept.
However, only the portion of the school where the dead bodies from the accident were kept has been demolished. The bodies were kept there for two days as relatives of relatives tried to the dead.
The locals have also decided to sanctify the school premises with a puja. The students also expressed hope that they would feel better after the puja.
MODEL SCHOOL TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN PLACE
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the demolition of the 65-year-old school building after a meeting with senior government officials. He also approved a proposal to build a model school after the demolition is complete. The model school will be equipped with modern facilities such as a library, science laboratory and digital classrooms.
Balasore Collector Shindey Dattatray told India Today TV that only the portion used as a morgue will be razed to build the new structure.
