Train Tragedy: Odisha Alarmed by Fraudulent Claim, Calls for Action

The Odisha government is concerned about the unidentified victims of the Bhubaneswar Bahanaga railway disaster. Authorities took action when a lady tried to fraudulently claim one of the remains as her husband’s.

Cuttack’s 40-year-old Gitanjali Dutta arrived at a Balasore makeshift mortuary where police were examining claimants’ documents. Her behavior sparked concern among officials. Gitanjali calmly chose one of the unidentified remains and said it was her spouse.

Bikas Kumar Palei, an Odisha police sub-inspector, alerted the Baramba police, where Gitanjali lived. The Baramba police confirmed her husband’s survival within an hour, revealing Gitanjali’s lie. She fled from the police.

The event startled the Odisha government, causing Pradeep Kumar Jena, the state chief secretary, to order the railroads and police to crack down on dishonest claims. After the catastrophic train tragedy, the government wants to stop anyone from claiming compensation fraudulently. The authorities want to help and compensate deserving victims and their families by cracking down on such dishonest practices.