Demolition begins at Odisha school that acted as morgue after train tragedy

As many as 205 bodies were kept in Bahanaga High School following the accident because of its proximity to the site and because the town was not equipped to handle such a large casualty figure

The primary section of Bahanaga high school, where bodies had temporarily been kept after the Odisha train accident, being demolished on Friday. (Express Photo)

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The Balasore district administration Friday started demolishing the primary section of Bahanaga high school, where bodies had temporarily been kept after the Odisha train accident that killed 288. Work started after approval was given in a virtual meeting today. A new structure will come up soon and the work is likely to be finished in three months. The demolition started in the presence of the School Management Committee members and the Public Works Department.

The district administration had sent the proposal made by the committee to the state for approval on Thursday, which was accepted a day later.

VIDEO | Bahanaga High School, which was turned into a makeshift morgue following the train crash incident in Odisha’s Balasore on June 2, is now being demolished. pic.twitter.com/ragmcklBNE

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 9, 2023

The virtual meeting was attended by Odisha Chief Secretary P K Jana , Mass Education Department Secretary S Aswathy, among others.

“The proposal was accepted today. There will be a new construction in the portion where bodies were kept. After the new structure is built, parents won’t hesitate to send sending their wards to school,” Vice Chairman of the School Managing Committee Dipanjali Sahoo told The Indian Express.

The decision comes after parents of some students aired apprehension about sending them to attend classes in the same rooms. (Express Photos)

“We welcome this decision. Boundary walls and other structures will be torn down. The target is to complete it before the end of summer vacation so that when students come, it is a new beginning for them,” said Ashish Kumar Sahoo, a committee member.

The decision comes after parents of some students aired apprehension about sending them to attend classes in the same rooms.

On Thursday, Balasore district collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde had visited the school.