Odisha Train Accident: A heart-wrenching sequence unfolded in Odisha's Balasore district as a catastrophic accident unfolded, involving three trains.
This tragic incident claimed the lives of a minimum of 280 individuals while leaving around 900 others injured.
Among the trains involved were the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.
The profound impact and dire consequences of this devastating collision have left the community in a state of shock and sorrow.
Taking place near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore, approximately 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, the train collision stands as one of the most tragic incidents witnessed in recent times within India.
The harrowing event occurred around 7 pm on a Friday, leaving a deep impact on the region and its inhabitants.
Addressing the situation, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasized the ongoing efforts to provide medical assistance to injured individuals.
He further announced the formation of a high-level committee to thoroughly investigate this tragic accident, in addition to an independent investigation by the CRS (Commissioner of Railway Safety).
Determining the cause of this horrific incident is of paramount importance, and the focus is currently directed towards the rescue and relief operations.
The details regarding the accident's circumstances will be unveiled once the inquiry concludes.
With this, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has also made an important announcement regarding compensation. Taking to Twitter, Vaishnaw stated that a sum of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the family of each individual who tragically lost their life in this unfortunate incident. Additionally, Rs 2 lakh will be granted to those who sustained serious injuries, while Rs 50,000 will be allocated to those with minor injuries.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also extended his support by announcing financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured individuals
As per the latest updates, the crucial relief and rescue operations are still in progress. The derailed coaches have resulted in numerous individuals being trapped, and the local community has been actively assisting the emergency service personnel in their efforts to rescue them.
Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena has reported the involvement of 7 NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams, 5 ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) teams, 24 Fire Service units, local police, and dedicated volunteers who are tirelessly engaged in the search and rescue mission.
Their collective endeavours reflect the commitment to saving lives during this challenging situation.
