A father’s refusal to believe his son died in the Odisha train tragedy not only drove him 230 kilometers to Balasore but also assisted him in tracking down his son and bringing him safely back to Kolkata.
The Odisha train tragedy killed at least 288 people and injured over 1200 more.
Biswajit Malik, a 24-year-old passenger on the Coromandel Express, was presumed dead in the crash.
According to the Times of India, Biswajit’s father Helaram Malik’s search for his son led him to a makeshift mortuary in Odisha, where he arrived after a nearly 230-kilometer ambulance ride from Kolkata.
Malik’s father’s heartfelt refusal to give up his firm belief has gone viral.
Biswajit was brought back from Odisha and had surgery at SSKM Hospital’s trauma care unit. He will now undergo several more surgeries.
Despite his serious injuries, Malik’s condition is said to be stable.
According to the report, Malik’s father owns a small shop in Howrah. After learning about the Odisha railway disaster, Helaram called his son and discovered that he had been severely injured.
He rushed off in an ambulance with his brother-in-law Dipak Das to Odisha’s Balasore to bring his child home.
However, things did not go as planned. Helaram searched from pillar to post for his son, but he did not give up. Helaram and Das continued their search until they arrived at Bahanaga High School, where they were greeted by a slew of bodies housed in the temporary mortuary.
Also read: Odisha tragedy: 5 major updates on one of India’s worst rail accidents
According to Das, when there was a disturbance, they noticed a hand shivering among the bodies.
Das stated that when they noticed a shivering hand, they realized it belonged to Biswajit, who had been seriously injured. They rushed Biswajit to Balasore Hospital, where he was given first aid.
Doctors requested that Helaram transport his son to Cuttack Medical College Hospital. He signed a bond, had his son released, and went home.
According to reports, Biswajit’s right hand was fractured numerous times. He will require two more surgeries.
