Odisha Train Crash: PM Modi Arrives, Railway Minister Vaishnaw Vows Probe as Toll Rises to 290 and Beyond

BALASORE: A “high level” probe into the tragic train crash near Balasore in Odisha was promised by Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday, when he visited the accident site. Rescue personnel were racing against time to extract survivors and family members of the passengers were desperately searching for their missing relatives.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the three train accident site in Odisha's Balasore to personally take stock of the situation.

The toll from the terrible tragedy increased to 290, with over 900 passengers having been injured in the accident involving two superfast trains and a goods train laden with iron ore.

With two general coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express having rolled into a ditch, the toll is likely to rise even further as dozens of injured people and dead bodies are believed to be trapped within the coaches.

According to an army officer, it was feared that 40-50 more bodies were confined inside the two coaches that fell into the deep ditch.

Minister Vaishnaw said, “A detailed high-level probe would be conducted and the railway safety commissioner would also do an independent inquiry. Right now, the focus is on rescue and relief operations.”

On Saturday, the Railway minister paid a visit to the accident site, even as rescue efforts by teams of the National Disaster Response Force, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, state fire services, and the Indian Army were on to extricate people trapped in the derailed bogies.

The Railway ministry has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased, Rs. 2 lakh to those severely injured, and Rs. 50,000 to those who sustained with minor injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders were expected to visit the accident spot, even as relatives were desperately looking for the missing passengers.

They rushed to schools as well as hospitals near the accident spot where the dead bodies were kept, hoping that their relatives will not found among them. While many of the bodies were discovered disemboweled, many others were decapitated or missing limbs.

Only about 16 of the 132 bodies could be identified, most of the bodies kept at a school building were lying unclaimed until Saturday afternoon.

“It’s the worst nightmare that one can think of,” said an elderly man. “I hope my worst enemies never face such a day in their lives,” he added.

It is still not clear as to how one of the biggest train accidents in the last two decades came to happen.

The Coromandel Express derailed just ahead of a station and the bogies are believed to have hit the goods train laden with iron ore, which was said to be standing on another line, said Railway officials who visited the accident spot on Saturday morning.

A railway official, who preferred to remain anonymous, said “The goods train was on the loop line while the Coromandel Express was given the go ahead on the main line at 7pm. However, the Coromandel Express jumped the track and the derailed engine hit the goods train from behind.”

13 of the bogies, including the engine, piled up on the goods train and also coiled around the tracks, taking along the overhead electric wires, he added. A few of the derailed coaches are also believed to have hit the last two general coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, throwing them off the tracks.

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