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Jyoti Basu orders mass cremation of unclaimed bodies

The West Bengal government today ordered mass cremation by tomorrow of most of the 288 bodies recovered from the wreckage of the two trains that collided head-on near Gaisal station in North Dinajpur district on Monday.

"The decomposed bodies are posing a serious health hazard for the local people and I have asked the district authorities to arrange for a mass cremation tomorrow," Chief Minister Jyoti Basu said in Calcutta.

Basu said he was aware of the problems of compensation in case of cremation without identification. "I have asked the district authorities to consult legal experts. Let us see what happens," he added.

State Home Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee said the special train from Delhi was expected to reach Gaisal by tomorrow with some of the relatives of the victims.

"If they can identify, we will hand over the bodies for cremation. But if they cannot, we will arrange for mass cremation," he added.

The bodies have been kept in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri Railway Hospital for identification.

So far 80-odd bodies, identified by the relatives of the victims, have been handed over for cremation.

UNI

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