JABAR EKSPRES – The death toll from a train crash in India rose to 288 on Saturday (6/4), as rescuers ended the search for victims, local officials said.
The accident occurred in Balasore District in Odisha on Friday (6/3) night and a massive rescue operation was carried out involving the National Disaster Response Force, the military and other agencies.
On Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the accident site and reviewed the search and rescue operations.
“He interacted with local authorities, personnel from disaster relief forces, and railway officials. He emphasized the ‘Whole of Government’ approach to mitigate this tremendous tragedy,” India’s Press Information Bureau said on Twitter about Modi’s visit.
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Modi asked the concerned authorities to ensure all the required assistance is provided to the injured as well as their families.
After meeting with the injured people, Modi told public broadcaster Doordarshan that instructions were issued for a thorough investigation, and said those found guilty would be severely punished.
He promised that the government would make every effort to provide treatment to the injured.
Earlier, Modi held a meeting in New Delhi to get a briefing on the situation after the train accident.
A report issued by Odisha’s emergency operations center on Saturday described the accident as a three-way accident, involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Coromandel Express, and a goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga market station.
“17 cars of these two trains have derailed and been badly damaged,” said the report, which noted that around 1,000 people were injured.
Railway authorities also said that rescue operations have been completed at the accident site and restoration work has begun.
Authorities in Odisha announced that 200 ambulances and 45 mobile health teams, as well as an additional team of doctors were deployed.
