Odisha train accident: Debris removed, track laying underway; 90 trains canceled

Indian Railways has stepped up repair work at the site of the Balasore train accident in Odisha that left at least 288 dead and around 1,175 injured. Of the injured, 793 have been discharged while 382 are undergoing treatment. The condition of two of those undergoing treatment is said to be critical. The two express trains were carrying over 2,200 passengers with reserved tickets. Railway officials and employees are doing restoration work round the clock. Latest visuals from the accident site showed that the road has been cleared of debris and track laying is underway.

Normal traffic till June 7

According to reports, while the track is expected to be repaired by June 5, normal traffic will be fully restored by June 7. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav took stock of the restoration work at the site. Over a thousand laborers worked overnight at the Balasore site to clear the debris and 7 Poklane machines, 2 Accident Relief Trains, 3-4 Railway and Road Cranes and 5 JCBs were deployed at the site.

#Watch , Odisha: Repair work is going on at the place where the horrific accident took place. #balasore train accident In which 288 people were killed and 747 were injured. pic.twitter.com/Gxqyr2FKoh

– ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) South Aditya Kumar Choudhary said, “The overturned bogies of the express trains have been removed… Two bogies of the goods train have also been removed… The connecting track work is underway on one side.” Used to be.” Eastern Railway.

Restoration trains of Indian Railways carrying new track sleepers, track rails and other machinery have already been deployed at the site. Efforts are being made to normalize train services at the earliest.

#Watch , Odisha: Aerial visuals from ANI’s drone camera shows restoration work underway at the site #balasore train accident

According to the Ministry of Railways, 1000+ manpower is engaged in the work. More than 7 poklen machines, 2 accident relief trains, 3-4 railway and road cranes… pic.twitter.com/9vg2wCulyd– ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

balasore train accident reason

As per reports, while passing through Up main line, 12841 Coromandel Express shifted to loop line due to signal problem and rammed into a goods train parked in loop line at Bahnaga Bazar station. A loop line is a railway track used to divert or pass another train. The impact of the collision was such that 21 coaches of the train were derailed, with three coaches falling onto the adjacent track, causing the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Express to pass in the opposite direction. The Bengaluru-Howrah train collided with three fallen coaches of the Coromandel Express and its last two coaches were derailed. As per the preliminary inquiry report, a signal was given to the Coromandel Express to enter the main line but it was removed and the train entered the loop line and thus collided with a stationary goods train.

90 trains cancelled; 46 diverted

Meanwhile, around 90 trains have been canceled and at least 46 were diverted and 11 were terminated due to the accident. South Eastern Railway has canceled trains like Chennai-Howrah Mail, Darbhanga-Kanyakumari Express, Kamakhya-LTT Express and Patna-Puri Special train. Southern Railway canceled trains like Mangalore-Santragachi Vivek Superfast Express, Dr. MGR Chennai Central-Shalimar Coromandel Express, Dr. MGR Chennai Central-Santragachi AC Superfast Train, Rangapara North-Erode Superfast Special, Guwahati-Shri M. Visvesvaraya Bengaluru Tri . Weekly Superfast Express, and Kamakhya-Sir M. Visvesvaraya Bengaluru AC Superfast Express.

announced compensation

Railways announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those killed, Rs 2 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 to passengers with minor injuries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced additional ex-gratia compensation. “The next of kin of each deceased in the train accident in Odisha will be given Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia from PMNRF. Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured,” Modi tweeted.