New Delhi: A total of 288 bodies have been recovered and around 800 injured passengers are currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals as rescue operations are expected to conclude in the next few hours, Odisha chief secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena said, a day after the devastating train accident in the state.
“The rescue operation is almost complete. The operation of the last bogie has started. So far, the death toll has been around 288. The injured are undergoing treatment,” news agency ANI quoted Jena as saying.
Meanwhile, Amitabh Sharma, Spokesperson, Ministry of Railways, said the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) or ‘Kavach’ was on trial last year in the wake of the devastating train accident that is suspected to have occurred due to the absence of 'Kavach' anti-collision system on the route. "The Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) or Kavach was on trial last year...in this technology when locomotives are on the same track then there is an automatic break,” Sharma said.
In view of the Coromandel Express accident, a total of 58 trains have been cancelled, 81 were diverted and 10 were terminated, Sharma further said.
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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Odisha's Balasore where the triple train accident occurred and took stock of the situation. He also visited a hospital and met with the injured victims. The PM said those found guilty in the matter will be punished stringently.
"It's a painful incident. Govt will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured. It's a serious incident, instructions issued for probe from every angle. Those found guilty will be punished stringently. Railway is working towards track restoration. I met the injured victims," he said.