Odisha Train Accident: At least 233 killed, over 900 injured in triple train collision
A triple train collision occurred in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening, killing at least 233 people and injuring over 900 others. The trains involved in the collision were the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.
The accident took place at around 6:30 pm local time near the Bahanaga railway station. The Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was coming from Bengaluru and was headed to Howrah, while the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express was coming from Shalimar and was headed to Chennai. The goods train was stationary on the track.
The Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed after hitting the goods train. The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express then collided with the derailed coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express.
The impact of the collision was so severe that several coaches of the trains were mangled beyond recognition. Rescue workers had to use cutting torches to free the trapped passengers.
The death toll is expected to rise as many of the injured are in critical condition. The injured have been taken to hospitals in Balasore and nearby towns.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation. However, initial reports suggest that a signal failure may have been to blame.
The Odisha government has announced a one-day state mourning on Saturday in honor of the victims. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured.
The accident has caused widespread shock and sadness in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the accident.
The Odisha train accident is one of the deadliest train accidents in Indian history. It is a tragedy that has claimed the lives of many innocent people. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but it is a reminder of the importance of safety on India's railways.
The investigation into the Odisha train accident is still ongoing, but there are a few possible explanations for why the accident occurred.- Signal failure: One possibility is that there was a signal failure at the Bahanaga railway station. This would have caused the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express to proceed onto the track that was occupied by the stationary goods train.
- Human error: Another possibility is that human error was to blame. This could have involved a driver error, a signaling error, or a maintenance error.
- Mechanical failure: It is also possible that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure on one of the trains. This could have involved a brake failure, a wheel failure, or a derailment.
The investigation team is still working to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, these are some of the possible explanations that are being considered.
Here are some of the latest updates on the investigation:
- The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has formed a three-member team to investigate the accident. The team will be led by the CRS himself and will include two other senior railway officials.
- The CRS has also ordered a comprehensive review of safety procedures on the Indian Railways. This review will include a look at the signaling system, the training of railway employees, and the maintenance of trains.
- The Indian Railways has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured. The railways has also said that it will bear the medical expenses of the injured.
The investigation into the Odisha train accident is a complex and time-consuming process. However, it is important to get to the bottom of what happened so that steps can be taken to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Shibashis Banerjee
