Agonising wait for the families of four passengers missing after Wednesday's fire on the Mumbai-Dehradun Express.
The already traumatised families of the four missing passengers of the Mumbai-Dehradun Express that caught fire on Wednesday have been told that it may take up to six weeks to establish the identities of the four bodies charred beyond recognition.
Nine people died in the fire that ripped through three bogies near Dahanu Road station, and the Western Railway (WR) officials were able to identify five of the deceased within a few hours of the accident.
The railway officials reported that around eight passengers had been missing, and at least 45 opted out when the train resumed the journey around six hours after the incident.
By Thursday afternoon, the WR officials were able to locate four of the eight people missing, and all 45 passengers who had opted out had also been contacted.
Four people, including two from Mumbai, are now on the final list of the passengers missing, and their relatives, who have been waiting at the J J Hospital where post-mortems had been conducted, are in for lengthy, agonizing wait.
The hospital dean, Dr T P Lahane, said: "The DNA samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina. It may take up to six weeks for the results to arrive."
Two of the four still missing are from Mumbai -- Null Bazaar resident Sakina Arsiwala, 57, and Jamir Ahmed, 60, from Jogeshwari - while the other two are an Indorebased couple, Hakimuddin Rassiwala, 63, and Zaibun Rassiwala, 53.
The railway doesn't want to take any chances, considering the goof-up barely a week ago in the aftermath of the December 28 Andhra train fire. The DNA reports revealed that the body of one of the victims, Aurangabad-based Eshwar Nagare, 70, had been buried by the family of another victim, S Bheemaiah, 55, from Sedam in Gulbarga district. The authorities' decision to release the body to Bheemaiah's relatives on the condition that they bury, and not cremate it, saved the day. Relatives of Sakina Arsiwala, a resident of Jariwala building, said she had celebrated the engagement of her son some time ago, and was travelling to Dahod in Gujarat for a family gathering. The stationmaster at Dahanu recognised her from the photograph her family members were carrying, and 'thought' he had helped her back on the train after the incident.
"We are hopeful that she's alive. Our relatives are in Dahanu, Vapi, Valsad and other places, looking for her in hospitals and clinics," said her relative Amir Masta.
Indore-based Hakimuddin Rassiwala and his wife had travelled to Mumbai to attend a wedding, and were on their way to Godhra in Gujarat. The couple's son, Mustali, said he and the relatives have been waiting at the hospital since 7 am Thursday. "The hospital authorities tell us to approach the Palghar police. They should show some compassion," he said.
Divisional Railway Manager (Western Railway) Shailendra Kumar said the railway officials were trying their best to help out the relatives, but without the DNA reports, there is only so much they could do.
"We made sure we contacted all those who opted out and traced the missing passengers. Now, we have no option but to wait for the reports," he said.
Friday 10 January 2014
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/It-will-take-6-weeks-to-identify-the-four-badly-charred-bodies/articleshow/28608010.cms
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