Odisha's unfortunate accident: Analyzing Three Train Accidents in Odisha

 

On 2 June 2023, A devastating three train collision took place in Balasore district,in the state of Odisha in eastern India. The Shalimar-MGR Chennai Central Coromandel Express, goods train carrying iron ore and SMVT Bengaluru-Howrah SF Express collided leaving more than 1000 severly injured and around 300 people lost their lives.A tragic accident shattered lives in instant.

According to the reports, there are two mainline tracks on the station and two loop tracks on the side. Loop tracks are used to stop a train for some time. The Coromandel express which carries lower middle class Bengalis for treatment to Tamil Nadu was on main upline. To let the train pass the goods train carrying iron ore was signaled to stop on loop track. At the same time SMVT which also carries many patients and families for treatment was on main downline. Both trains, not scheduled to stop at the railway station and having received a green signal indicating it was safe to proceed along the main line, were at their highest speed of 128 km/h. Due to failure in electronic interlocking system the signal was wrongly switched to loop track. Following the signal the Coromandel express switched with high speed to loop track and collided with the goods train containing iron ore. 21 coaches of the train were derailed and 3 of them collided with the end of Bengaluru-Howrah Express.

 After the accident Bahanaga assistant station master,S.B. Mohanty was found absconding from the place.The government of west Bengal and railways issued helpline numbers and sent ambulances to rescue and assist the wounded.The prime minister, Mr Narendra Modi also visited the accident site.One of the passenger Anubhav Das reported, ‘This was the sight I have never seen in my life. Blood on tracks and people without limbs and many with destroyed faces’. The railway board member Jaya verma sinha said,’The locomotive piolt’s condition is critical and he is in the hospital’.Some people asked for resignation of railway minister.

The railways announced to pay compensation of rupees 10 lakh to families who lost their member, rupees 2 lakh to the severely injured and rupees 50,000 to those with minor injuries. The government of west Bengal also announced compensation to those affected in the tragic accident.Mr Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the incident and extended his thoughts to the grieving families.The chief minister of Tamil Nadu and Odisha declared a day of mourning.