Odisha three-train crash: Terrifying tragedy, those found guilty won’t be spared, says PM Modi

Calling the Balasore train accident a “terrifying tragedy”, PM Modi vowed exemplary action against those found guilty, a remark seen as pointing to preliminary assessment about human failure being the possible cause of the tragedy.
The PM said the government would stand with the families of the victims in their hour of grief. “Yeh ghatna atyant gambhir hai, har prakar ki janch ke nirdesh diye gaye hain aur jo bhi doshi paya jayega, usko sakht se sakht saza ho, usko bakhsha nahin jayega (The government considers this an extremely grave incident. Multiple investigations have been ordered and exemplary punishment will be given to whoever is found guilty, he will not be spared),” he said after visiting the accident spot and the Balasore hospital where the injured are being treated.

'Will ensure best treatment for the injured'
The PM’s remark on punishing the “guilty” came amid a gathering debate in the railway and government circles over whether the tragedy was triggered because of a signalling failure that resulted in the fast-moving Coromandel Express, instead of taking the main line, going onto the loop line and crashing into a stationary goods train. He also said the tragedy holds important lessons which will help strengthen the mechanisms to ensure the safety of citizens.

“This has caused me unbearable pain. So many people from so many states have suffered losses and so many lives have been lost. This is painful, the grief has unsettled us,” said the PM. Referring to his visit to the hospital where he met the injured, he said, “I am at a loss for words. I pray to God to give us the strength to come out of this moment of sadness.” He stressed that the government would spare no effort to ensure the best treatment for the injured.

Accompanied by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Modi praised the Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government, local administration as well as the people of the state for rising to the occasion. “I salute the citizens here from the core of my heart for the help they have rendered, either by way of blood donation or helping with rescue efforts or doing whatever they could in this moment of crisis,” he said.
According to government officials, the PM reviewed the relief work under way at Bahanaga during his interaction with the local authorities, personnel from the disaster relief forces and railway officials.
The PM emphasised on a “whole of government” approach to mitigate the tragedy. Modi also spoke to Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba, directing them to ensure help to the injured and their family members.
About 20 hours after the accident, the railways announced completion of rescue operations, following which restoration work started at the site.