Odisha Train Accident: Railways Minister Orders High-Level Enquiry In Balasore Tragedy
Odisha Train Accident Update: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that for now, the focus is on rescue after the collision of Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Saturday took stock of the situation after three trains collided in Odisha's Balasore. The Union Minister ordered a high-level enquiry into the accident and said that for now, the focus is on rescue operations.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "It's a big tragic accident. Railway, NDRF, SDRF, and State govt are conducting the rescue operation. Best possible healthcare facilities will be provided. Compensation was announced yesterday. A high-level committee has been formed to inquire about it."
He added, "Our priority is to conduct rescue and relief operations. Following approval from district administration, the restoration will begin. A detailed high-level investigation will be carried out, as will an independent investigation by the rail safety commissioner." Vaishnaw also said that the cause of the accident will be known after the Commissioner of Railway Safety submits his report.
Presently, a combined search and rescue operation being conducted by NDRF and local administration is currently underway. So far, 233 people are feared dead, while over 900 are injured following the derailment of the Coromandel Express train. Officials in Bhubaneswar said 200 ambulances, 50 buses, and 45 mobile health units were working at the accident site, besides 1,200 personnel.
As per ANI's report, currently, the rescue teams are working on cutting the only bogie left, which sustained the most damage after the tragic train accident in Balasore. The people injured are being treated in the hospitals in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Cuttack districts.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan also cut short his visit to Kolkata in West Bengal and left for Balasore in Odisha, where several coaches of a passenger train derailed after colliding with a goods carriage.
The Odisha government has declared a day of mourning on Saturday after the train derailment.
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