Odisha train accident: High-level probe ordered; no time for politics, says Mamata Banerjee

Odisha train accident: As rescue operations ended, the Railway ministry announced a high level probe into the Odisha train accident in which more than 250 people were killed and nearly 900 injured on Friday night.

Railway authorities initiate high-level probe into the crash involving three trains. The probe will be headed by the commissioner of railway safety, South Eastern Circle, officials said on Saturday.

"AM Chowdhary, CRS, SE Circle, will inquire into the accident," a spokesperson of the Indian Railways said. He also said the anti-train collision system "Kavach" was not available on the route.

Meanwhile, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who reached Balasore, met the Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav. The two addressed the media together.

No time for politics, says Mamata

“This is not a time to do politics.. I am standing here with the Railway Minister and BJP MPs. We will give 5 lakhs from our state. We have also sent 40 doctors from Bengal, along with two buses. The case needs to be thoroughly investigated. I have heard 500 people have died. It needs to be found out how so many people died,” Mamata said.

She added, “Railway (department) is like my baby.. I am a member of the railway family. I am ready to give my suggestions. If serious patients can't be treated here, I am also ready to take them to Kolkata for medical treatment.”

PM to visit Balasore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had left for Odisha and will visit the train accident site in Balasore district, about 170 km north of Bhubaneswar. The PM will meet with injured people at hospitals in Cuttack, sources said.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik also visited Balasore this morning and reviewed the situation with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The triple train crash occurred at about 7pm on Friday when Howrah Superfast Express between Bangalore to Howrah, derailed and became entangled with the Coromandel Express, which runs from Kolkata to Chennai, railway officials said.

The crash was so strong that carriages were lifted high into the air, twisting and then smashing off the tracks. Another carriage was tossed entirely onto its roof, crushing the passenger section.

Survivor recalls crash

"Everything was shaking and we could feel the coach toppling," said passenger Sanjay Mukhia, travelling to Chennai on Coromandel-Shalimar Express. Limbs were seen scattered over the ripped metal wreckage.

The Railways Ministry has ordered a high-level probe into how the accident happened. The ministry has also announced compensation of ₹ 10 lakh for those who have died, ₹ 2 lakh for those seriously injured. PM Modi has also announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh for the family of the dead and ₹ 50,000 for the injured from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Odisha train accident ranks as third worst. It is the deadliest since 1995, when two express trains collided in Firozabad, near Agra, killing more than 300 people.

Must Read: Three Trains Derail! Railway Accident Claims Over 280 Lives in Odisha, 900 Injured

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