The Odisha Catholic Bishops’ Council (OCBC) has made an appeal to Christians and youth to donate blood for the survivors of the triple train tragedy that struck the eastern Indian state.
In a Matters India report, Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, chairperson of OCBC, urged the faithful to give blood “for the needs of the cause at the earliest possible.”
The train accident, which occurred on June 2, claimed the lives of 275 people and left 1,175 others injured, making it the deadliest rail accident in the country in over two decades.
The prelate visited the injured victims and prayed for the speedy recovery of those undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Balasore, some 195 km northeast of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha.
Recently, Pope Francis also expressed his sorrow at the tragedy in Odisha, stating that he was deeply saddened by the immense loss of life caused by the train collision.
The pontiff’s sentiments were shared by Bishop Niranjan Sualsingh of Sambalpur, who referred to the accident as a national tragedy.
He offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the deceased souls to rest in peace, as well as for the swift healing of the injured.
Bishop Sualsingh thanked the people “who have selflessly helped the injured and carried the dead to safe places.”
He also commended the nation’s leaders and civil authorities for their prompt action in providing medical care and facilitating the reunification of the deceased with their loved ones.
Local parish youth played a crucial role in shifting the bodies, while organizations such as the Balasore Social Service Society (BSSS) provided relief efforts by supplying medical care and food.
