In a tragic incident that shocked the nation, a three-train collision in Balasore, Odisha, resulted in the death of at least 261 people and left around 900 injured. This devastating accident marks the deadliest rail mishap in India in over two decades. The collision involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying scene, describing how one train crashed into another with such force that carriages were sent flying into the air, twisting and crashing off the tracks. Some carriages were even overturned, leading to the crushing of the passenger sections. Sanjay Mukhia, a survivor traveling on the Coromandel-Shalimar Express, shared his harrowing experience, explaining that he was asleep when the train derailed. When he emerged from the coach, he witnessed limbs scattered all around, with disfigured faces and injured passengers in need of immediate help.
Efforts to rescue survivors were promptly initiated, and the rescue operation has since been completed. Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma stated that the focus has now shifted to restoration work. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the causes behind the train crash. The committee will play a crucial role in determining the factors that led to this horrific incident.
As a mark of respect and mourning, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared a one-day state mourning period. In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress and announced his visit to the accident site to meet with the injured individuals at hospitals in Cuttack. He also offered condolences to the families of the deceased. Additionally, a compensation package was announced, with ₹10 lakh provided to the families of those who lost their lives, ₹2 lakh for the seriously injured, and ₹50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries. This compensation will be disbursed from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to express her concern and assured that she is personally monitoring the situation in coordination with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials.
The accident had significant ramifications for rail services in the region. A total of 48 trains were canceled, 39 were diverted, and 10 trains were short-terminated due to the incident. These measures were necessary to ensure the safety and security of passengers while facilitating the ongoing restoration work.
This tragic train collision serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of the country’s railway infrastructure. It also highlights the need for thorough investigations to identify the causes of such accidents and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
