Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened a high-level meeting with railway officials to review the situation of the Cormondal express accident in Odisha's Balasore. After the meeting the prime Minister will go to Odisha today and visit the site of the accident in Balasore. He will then visit the hospital in Cuttack, reported news agency ANI, citing sources.
The train crash, considered to be the fourth deadliest in India happened near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday.
Several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, on the way to Howrah, derailed and fell on adjacent tracks. The derailed coaches collided with the 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches capsized too, reported PTI, citing railway official
A goods train was also involved in the accident as some of the coaches of the Coromandel Express, which was heading to Chennai, hit its wagons after getting derailed, he added.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday visited the accident site in Balasore site where three trains collided resulting in the death of 233 people and more than 900 injured. While talking to the media about the incident, he said that a detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry. He took stock of the situation and said that the government's focus is on rescue and relief operations.
"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," the Railways Minister said, as per news agency ANI.
"Our focus is on rescue and relief operations. Restoration will begin after clearance from district administration. A detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the rail safety commissioner will also do an independent inquiry," he added.