At least 280 dead in train accident
Train accidents are common in India, but a disaster of this magnitude is a rare exception even there: Several trains derailed in Balasore, and the number of fatalities has risen to at least 280.
According to new information, at least 280 people have died in the severe train accident in the Indian state of Odisha. There are also about 900 injured, said Odisha’s chief administrative officer Pradeep Kumar Jena.
Since there are still victims believed to be under the overturned cars and the recovery work was additionally complicated by the onset of night, further rising numbers are to be feared.
But it is already clear that this is one of the worst train accidents of recent decades. Cause of the accident is still unclear
Although accidents on railways are common in India, casualties of this magnitude are rare even in a country with 1.4 billion inhabitants.
The accident occurred on Friday evening at around 7 pm local time (3 pm CEST) in the Balasore district. The course of events was still unclear hours after the accident, and the situation at the scene of the accident was still confusing. According to initial findings, two passenger trains and a freight train derailed.
Recordings from the scene of the accident showed helpers on and beside the overturned train cars desperately trying to rescue injured passengers from under the ton heavy rubble. Government already announces compensation for victims
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the ANI news agency that he had ordered an investigation into the cause of the train disaster. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock and wrote on Twitter, “In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the grieving families.” The Prime Minister’s office already announced compensation of 200,000 rupees (2267 euros) for the families of the deceased shortly after the accident. According to the announcement, the injured are to receive 50,000 rupees each.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promised an additional compensation of one million rupees for the families of the deceased. Severely injured persons are to receive 200,000 rupees each and lightly injured persons are to receive 50,000 rupees each, according to the information.