BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Friday began demolishing the 65-year-old Bahanaga High School building that was used as a temporary morgue for victims of Coromandel Express.

The demolition was being carried out in presence of the school managing committee (SMC) members and Public Works Department officials.

The decision to raze the building was taken after the SMC said it was old and not safe and that kids were reluctant to attend classes in the school where bodies were kept.

Guardians had also demanded demolition of the building as photos of bodies being ferried to the school for identification by their families had been imprinted in the minds of children.

Based on the SMC’s decision and request by guardians and locals, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a meeting with senior government officials including the Chief Secretary and sanctioned reconstruction of the institute on Thursday.

He also approved a proposal to make it a model school with modern facilities such as a library, science laboratory and digital classrooms.

School and Mass Education Department Secretary S Aswathy said the authorities will organise counselling for students and teachers to remove fear from their minds.