Debasish Patra, ten, was trapped under the weight of seven dead bodies in Odisha’s Bahanaga Bazar, the site of a catastrophic three-way rail accident last week that killed nearly 280 people.
The young boy was miraculously rescued by his older brother and villagers on Saturday, after hours of desperate rescue efforts, according to The Times of India. Debasish, a Class 5 student, and some members of his family were traveling on the Coromandel Express to Bhadrak in Odisha when an apparent signaling error caused a pile-up between the former train, a superfast Bengaluru-Howrah service, and a parked goods train.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has been tasked with investigating the horrific accident, which began this morning. As a result of the crash, Debasish sustained multiple injuries to his forehead and face. The young boy became trapped beneath the weight of several bodies after the trains collided.
According to To’s report, his older brother demonstrated remarkable bravery in coordinating a rescue operation with local villagers. Despite the difficult circumstances, their collaborative efforts eventually succeeded in rescuing Debasish from the wreckage.
“My father had booked tickets in Coromandel Express for Bhadrak, where uncle and aunty were waiting to receive us. From there we planned to go to Puri. My father, mother and elder brother had planned the trip and all were travelling with me,” Debasish later said.
“A few minutes after the train left Balasore on Friday evening, I was sitting next to my mother and suddenly there was a huge sound followed by a massive jerk and everything went dark. I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I was in terrible pain and trapped under a heap of bodies.”
Debasish Patra was taken to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after his rescue. His injuries are severe, but doctors are optimistic about his chances of recovery.
