Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened a meeting to review the situation in relation to the rail accident, ANI cited Govt of India sources as saying. Government sources also say that PM Modi will go to Odisha today, visit the accident site and hospital.
The collision of three trains in Balasore district, Odisha, has resulted in a loss of life, with the confirmed death toll currently standing at 233 individuals.
In response to the catastrophe, authorities in Bhubaneswar have mobilised a significant response effort. To assist at the accident site, they have deployed 200 ambulances, 50 buses, and 45 mobile health units. Additionally, a team of 1,200 personnel has been deployed to provide necessary support and aid in managing the aftermath of this tragic incident.
The calamitous event occurred approximately 220 kilometers southwest of Kolkata on June 2 night. The scene was one of chaos as rescue teams mounted the wreckage, utilising cutting torches to access doors and windows and liberate survivors.
Reports indicate that around 900 individuals sustained injuries in the accident, according to P.K. Jena, the top administrative official of Odisha. The investigation into the cause of the derailment is currently underway, according to AP, as authorities seek to determine the factors that led to this devastating incident.
Amid the aftermath of the incident, it remains unclear whether any of the trains involved in the collision were equipped with the Kavach, India's homegrown system designed to assist locomotive pilots in avoiding Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) and over speeding while also providing support for train operations during adverse weather conditions such as dense fog.
Many are now arguing that Kavach would have prevented the accident. But, everything seems to be left to speculations at the moment.
Officials said 1,200 rescuers worked with 115 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units through the night at the accident site. Saturday was declared as a day of mourning in Odisha as the state's chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, reached the district to meet injured passengers.
Villagers said they rushed to the site to evacuate people after hearing a loud sound created by the train coaches going off the tracks.
(With AP inputs)
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