About 16 hours after the accident, the rescue operation was announced to be complete on the afternoon of Saturday, June 3, by the Railways, following which restoration work commenced.

news Odisha Train Accident Saturday, June 03, 2023 - 19:35
Written by  TNM Staff

Terming the horrific train accident in Odisha's Balasore an extremely serious incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, June 3, that the government will provide the best medical facility to the injured, adding that those found guilty will be punished. Speaking to the media at the Balasore Hospital after meeting the injured passengers, Modi said, "People of several states were travelling in the two trains and many of them have lost someone. It is a painful incident."

"The government will stand by their (the deceased persons) families. This is a very serious incident. A probe has been ordered. Whoever is found guilty will be punished stringently," he added. The Prime Minister said that special care must be taken to ensure that the bereaved families don't face inconvenience and those affected keep getting all the assistance they need.

The Prime Minister thanked the Odisha government and the local administration for helping the passengers of the two trains. He also thanked the local residents who were the first responders. Modi also hailed the people of the area and the youth for donating blood and working through the night to help in the rescue and relief operation.

Earlier, Modi went to the site of the accident that claimed at least 288 lives and left over 900 injured, and took stock of the situation. According to government officials, Modi reviewed the relief works that are underway at the site of the mishap. He also interacted with the local authorities, personnel from the disaster relief forces, and railway officials.

The Prime Minister emphasised on a 'whole of government' approach to mitigate the tragedy. Modi also spoke to the Cabinet Secretary and the Union Health Minister from the site and asked them to ensure that all kinds of help is provided to the injured and their families. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who reached Balasore earlier in the day, briefed the Prime Minister about the accident and also about the rescue and relief operations. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was also present at the accident site.

About 16 hours after the accident, which involved two Express trains – Coromandel and SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express – and a goods train, the rescue operation was announced to be complete on Saturday afternoon by the Railways, following which restoration work commenced.

The Chennai-bound Coromandel Express and the Howrah-bound SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express trains met with an accident on Friday evening as coaches of the two trains derailed near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha's Balasore district.

Friday's accident brought back the horrific memories of another deadly train accident in UP's Firozabad in 1995, in which 358 people died. In a similar accident on August 2, 1999, the Brahmaputra Mail collided with the Awadh-Assam Express near Gaisal in Assam, which claimed the lives of approximately 290 people.

With IANS inputs