A devastating train collision in the eastern Indian state of Odisha has killed at least 275 people and injured over 1,000, many of them seriously. The crash on Friday evening near Balasore is described as India’s worst in a century.
The incident involved the Coromandel Express, Howrah Superfast Express, and a stationary goods train. The catastrophic event has left the nation in shock and mourning, with questions lingering about the cause and the circumstances that led to it.
The Coromandel Express, which was a few hours into its journey from Shalimar railway station in the state of West Bengal to the southern city of Chennai, and the Howrah Superfast Express, which had set off from Yesvantpur station in Bengaluru and was heading towards Howrah. There was a stationary goods train standing at the Bahanaga Bazar station.
The Coromandel Express traveled 128 km/h (79.5 mph) when it unexpectedly veered off its designated track and entered a loop line. This fateful decision caused it to smash into the rear of the stationary goods train. The violent impact resulted in the derailment of several coaches, with the Howrah Superfast Express colliding into the wreckage. The disastrous events led to an overwhelming loss of life and numerous injuries.
The initial investigation suggests that a signal failure caused the collision. The Coromandel Express was running on the wrong track when it collided with the goods train. The impact of the collision caused the Coromandel Express to derail, and its coaches fell onto the two rear coaches of the Superfast Express, derailing that train as well.
The impact of the collision was so catastrophic that the coaches of the three trains derailed, leaving a scene of carnage. Rescue workers worked through the night to search for survivors and free those trapped in the wreckage. The death toll from the crash is expected to rise as rescue workers continue to search through the wreckage. The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals, where they are treated for various injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, and internal bleeding.
As of Saturday morning, June 3, the death toll from the crash had risen to at least 288. Over 900 people have been injured, many of them seriously. The injured have been taken to hospitals in Balasore and nearby cities. The cause of the crash is not yet clear. However, railway officials have said they are investigating the possibility of signal failure as a contributing factor.
The crash has caused widespread shock and grief in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered a high-level inquiry into the crash. The Indian government and Indian Railways have announced a compensation package for the crash victims. The families of the dead will receive 500,000 rupees (US$6,700), while the injured will receive 250,000 rupees (US$3,350)
The Odisha train collision is the latest in India’s series of deadly train accidents. In 2016, a train derailment in Uttar Pradesh killed over 140 people. In 2017, a train collision in Madhya Pradesh killed over 120 people. India has one of the largest railway networks in the world. However, the network is also aging and poorly maintained. This has led to a number of deadly train accidents in recent years.
While the investigations are ongoing, some tracks were opened to railway traffic on Monday. The crash has drawn attention to India’s railways, which are among the worlds’ busiest and have a poor safety record. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 2,60,659 people died in railway accidents in India in the last 10 years.
The Odisha train collision is a tragedy that has claimed the lives of many innocent people. The government must take steps to improve the safety of the railway network to prevent such accidents from happening again.
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