REMTA (BARGARH):Heart rending scenes unfolded at Remta village in Bargarh district as the bodies of bus accident victims were brought on Monday. Five members of the village died in the accident. The deceased are opera party owner Sitaram Pradhan, Angad Pradhan, Kasinath Pradhan, Rasanand Mahanandia and Sukanti Parida.
The entire village went into shock ever since the news broke on Sunday night. None in the village had cooked or eaten anything as each one shared a good relationship with the families of the dead.
As the bodies arrived in three vehicles around 11 am, loud wailing of women broke the eerie silence that had gripped village since Sunday. Men too could not hold back their tears.
Ayodhya, wife of Sitaram Pradhan, who had already lost her daughter was inconsolable and was slipping into unconsciousness. She had recently lost her daughter in a wall collapse and now she only has her son to call her own.
Soon after the bodies reached, the last rites began. The villagers had contributed wood for the funeral and the bodies were laid to rest at the village’s cremation ground.
Remta’s neighbouring village, Kainsir, too witnessed similar scenes. it was fortunate though with only two deaths recorded. The deceased are Raj Kumar Patel and his five-year old son Deepak. Rajkumar’s wife Laxmipriya Patel and the couple’s eight-month old girl Deepika are recovering at VIMSAR, Burla. The villagers united to bid farewell to the father and son who were laid to rest on a single pyre.
Village Synonymous with Opera Party
Bharati Gana Natya of Bharati Kala Parishad had earned a distinct identity for village Remta. Although many small and low-priced opera parties flourish in the region, Bharati Gana Natya under Sitaram Pradhan had carved a niche for itself as its artists were carefully chosen from across the State. With death of Sitaram, the 14-year sojourn of Bharati Gana Natya came to an end.
Bus Not Fitness Certified
The private bus that fell off the GayalGhat did not have fitness certificate and was engaged in ferrying students of Kendriya Vidyalaya here. It had been hired by the manager of the opera party, Narayan Pradhan, as the school is closed till April 20 due to heat wave. Although officially the bus is owned by one Tapan Kumar Mohanty of Cuttack, it was operated and managed by Kalim of Bargarh. It is still not clear whether Mohanty had sold the bus or had leased it out.