BackOdisha train crash:‘Hallucinations of blood every time he saw water,’ NDRF DG shares ordeal of rescuers
Survivors of Balasore train crash are not the only one dealing with the trauma of India's worst train accident as many the accident take a toll on the mental health of rescuers as well. Recently, NDRF DG shared the ordeal of NDRF personnel involved in the rescue operation
PremiumThe ghastly three-train crash accident in Odisha's Balasore was a nightmare turned into reality for the survivors. However, the incident was equally traumatising for the people involved in the rescue operation. After fully engaging in the three-day long rescue operation, one of the NDRF rescuers suffered hallucinations, while another one reported a loss of appetite, said Atul Karwal, NDRF DG, on Tuesday.
“I met my personnel who were involved in the rescue operation following the Balasore train accident... someone told me he had hallucinations of blood every time he saw water. Another said he has lost his urge to eat post this rescue operation," said Atul Karwal while addressing the Annual Conference on Capacity Building for Disaster Response-2023' on Tuesday.
It is worth noting that a total of nine teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed for rescue operations, after three trains crashed over each other on June 2 in Odisha. The accident is accounted as one of the worst train accidents in India's history. The accident took the lives of more than 278 people and injured more than 900 people. The official data claims the rescue of 44 victims and retrieval of 121 bodies from the spot by the force.
The NDRF DG, who recently toured the accident site, said the force initiated psychological counseling and mental stability courses for its personnel upon their return from a rescue and relief operation.
Mental health courses and counselling for NDRF personnel involved in the rescue operation
The NDRF DG recently toured the accident site. Looking at the massive impact of the rescue operation on the mental health of the rescuers, he informed that the force has initiated psychological counselling and mental stability courses for its personnel upon their return from a rescue and relief operation.
He added that such counselling sessions to ensure the good mental health of rescuers are being held for people who undertook rescue and relief operations in areas struch with disaster.
About 95 per cent of the estimated 18,000 personnel-strong force was "fit" after special exercises were carried out in this context since the last year, Karwal added.
As many as 21 coaches were derailed and massively damaged in the three-train crash accident. The train accident in Balasore involved Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express. The Coromandel Express was carrying around 2,500 passengers. The third train involved in the accident was a goods train laden with iron ore. The accident occurred around 7 pm on Friday near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore. The district is located 250 kilometers south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar.
(With inputs from PTI)
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