Search the Internet          Tips

Paper slips given instead of death certificates

The matter came to light when the relative of a victim, Dulal Chandra Das, pointed out the lapse to the medicos manning the help desk at platform number 21 of Howrah station, where the train bringing the bodies of the accident victims had arrived.

"What we have is just a paper, signed by an inspector at the Aurangabad Hospital, saying that the body be handed over to a relative. Do you realise this is not a death certificate and we'll have problems at the crematorium?" the man asked.

But the personnel at the help desk said, "There is nothing we can do now. We are not authorised to issue death certificates from here. Please get in touch with our senior officials."

Das's relatives then ran to the other end of the platform to look for the officials who could help them, even as reports suggested that relatives of other victims had left the station with the bodies of their dear ones, ignorant of the unauthorised 'death certificates' they had with them.

The Eastern Railway authorities also failed to produce a proper list of the victims whose bodies were brought in the train. "We don't have the list here. You can get in touch with our assistant divisional railway manager if you need to find out," was all that the personnel at the help desk told reporters.

They were also unable to confirm if another train with more bodies would arrive later in the day.

Gautam Mukherjee, brother-in-law of Dulal Chandra Das, complained that Das's body was kept on the platform at Rafigunj without proper preservation.

Newsmen present at the scene saw that the bodies kept in the train's rear compartments were crudely wrapped in plastic and laid on melting ice slabs amid an overwhelming stench.

Many of the bodies had bloated due to lack of preservatives, while others had become mere masses of flesh.

Some of those who left on Tuesday to bring back the bodies of their relatives and friends said the railway authorities did not provide even basic amenities like food or drinking water.

PTI

The Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani Express Mishap: Full Coverage

Tell us what you think of this report