The World Sings Thy Praises, Yet The Forgotten Mourn, Balasore Train Tragedy Demands Justice For The Disregarded Dead, Not 288 But 1000 Dead!

In the dark shadows of the Balasore train tragedy, where three trains collided in a catastrophic accident, the true extent of the devastation remains shrouded in deceit.

As the memory of that fateful night lingers, we know the details, what happened and why the massive train accident, but what we are not sure of is the exact numbers of the people who died in this unfortunate incident that night! Perhaps one would argue that this is not the case; the numbers have been and were reported in almost every news channel, but were they the correct number?

As we dig deeper into the unfortunate, heart-rendering accident, it becomes apparent that the reported numbers of casualties were a distorted reflection of the grim reality that unfolded.

Once again, as always, is the case in this country; every event, as heartbreaking as it might be, is turned into an opportunity to be taken advantage of by who?

The political people, of course, and who else. It is almost as if they wait like vultures lingering for an incident to happen and giving them the prospect to turn it into political mileage. That is the job of the opposition right to pounce on every event, no matter how heart rendering it might be and make it into a political game, ready to get their hands dirty, not helping to get into the debris to take out mutilated bodies of the dead or even rescuing the people who might be trapped, no not that, who wants to actually get their hands dirty with mud but mudslinging is what they have been waiting for!

Thus, no surprise that this accident was exploited as an opportunity by the political vultures keen on reaping political mileage from the sorrow of the innocent and, of course, for the ruling party an event to be hidden. 

Therefore, now coming to the point, initial media reports claimed that 288 precious lives were lost, with 803 people injured. However, amidst the cacophony of half-truths and political agendas, doubts arose regarding the accuracy of these figures. Hence, are these the correct numbers?

The trains that we are talking about ferry a substantial number of people, and as per a report by Dainik Bhaskar, in its fearless pursuit of truth, it dared to question the official narrative. Their investigation revealed a staggering revelation, the actual number of lives lost was in actuality 1000 in number, far surpassing the government’s convenient tally. Thus, questioning the pro – Modi media, revealing the truth and tearing into the very pristine white clothes of the morality of the railway minister – Ashwini Vaishnav and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaving their credibility in tatters.

The sad and tearful part is that the news daily rightly raised the question – the disheartening reality is that while the government clung to its fabricated numbers, the cries of the grieving went unheard.
Therefore, who is lying here, the government or the poor people who have lost their near and dear ones who were present at the site of the train accident searching for their relations?

Where is the official list that bears witness to the countless souls lost, and where are the answers owed to the anguished families who tirelessly searched for their loved ones amidst the wreckage?

Now while such a big claim is being made about the blatant lie and the dishing of unreal figures (to suit their image and keep their prestigious position and not surrender to the demands of the opposition), Bhaskar, unyielding in its pursuit of justice, sought the accounts of eleven local eyewitnesses present at the scene of the horrific accident.

Their testimonies echoed a unanimous truth; the media’s reported figure of 288 was a blatant lie. At least 1,000 lives were snuffed out that tragic night, victims of a callous tragedy and victims once more of a government’s heartless manipulation.
The ruling party, BJP, not only underreported the numbers but also attempted to bury Bhaskar’s report, further highlighting their indifference to the suffering of the marginalized.

What this shows is the cheapness, the shallow heart, the calculative mind of a politician(s) who have absolutely no regard for the dead and to save their image, seat/position, and above all, not to be answerable or answer the questions in media can go to such lengths so as to completely distort the numbers. What’s even more damning is that not only the ruling party, BJP, has underreported the numbers but also tried to bury the report of Dainik Bhaskar, which was, in actuality, reporting the truth and was thus removed!

What could be worse than this? What could be more disgusting than the devaluation of human life?
These poor and voiceless individuals, treated as mere animals crammed together in trains, were denied not only their lives but also the dignity of being accounted for in official statistics. Their deaths were conveniently brushed aside as if their poverty stripped them of their right to be recognized as victims.

In the splendid symphony of international acclaim and praise, it is a hollow victory if a leader cannot stand with their own people if they cannot extend a compassionate hand to those in need. The Balasore train tragedy is a haunting reminder of the depths to which politicians will sink, sacrificing truth and compassion for personal gain. In this callous display of power, they have failed the very people they were sworn to protect.

The Last Bit, It is of no use if the entire world sings your tune and praises; if leader(s) can not stand by the very people of the country and treat them like animals just because they are poor or belong to the marginally deficient segment and have no influence, in terms of money or power – you have failed as a person!