New Delhi: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said the Centre has found out the root cause that led to the collision of three trains in Odisha, leaving at least 288 death and thousands severely injured on June 2.
The minister revealed the accident took place due to change in electronic interlocking and said that all the facts will be cleared once the Commissioner Rail safety will submit the report.
Electronic interlocking is an arrangement of signal apparatus that prevents conflicting movements between trains through an arrangement of tracks. It is basically a safety measure to prevent signals from being changed in improper sequence. The aim of this system is that no train gets the signal to proceed unless the route is proven safe.
“All bodies have been removed. Our target is to finish the restoration work by Wednesday morning so that trains can start running on this track,” said Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Construction started to fix damage, expected to finish by Wednesday
Talking to media person while inspecting the accident site, the union minister pointed out that the restoration work has started already that is expected to be finished by Wednesday morning so the trains can run again
“The restoration work has started as instructed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” added Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Prime Minister on Saturday reached Balasore district where the accident happened and took stock of the situation.
#WATCH | The root cause of this accident has been identified. PM Modi inspected the site yesterday. We will try to restore the track today. All bodies have been removed. Our target is to finish the restoration work by Wednesday morning so that trains can start running on this… pic.twitter.com/0nMy03GUWK
— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023
Prime Minister visit accident site, injured
PM Modi then visited a hospital in Balasor where the injured ones were taken to. He said, ” I have no words to express the grief that I am experiencing.” “Those found guilty will be punished stringently,” he added.
#WATCH | "It's a painful incident. Govt will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured. It's a serious incident, instructions issued for probe from every angle. Those found guilty will be punished stringently. Railway is working towards track restoration. I met… pic.twitter.com/ZhyjxXrYkw
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023
Demand of resignation from Railway Minister
Following the deadliest train accident in India, an uproar has occured by the Opposition, activists and many in the public demanding the Railways Minister to resign from his post.
Odisha Train Accident: How did it happen?
The collision of three trains namely: Coromandel Express, Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train already parked at the Bahanaga Bazar station, is the India’s fifth deadliest accidents in its history, stated BBC.
There are no confirmation yet on which train derailed first but Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said that it was the Coromandel Express that was coming from Shalimar railway station in West Bengal, which lost control at first place.
The train hit the stationary goods train at the station. As per the media reports, the collosion affected the Howrah Superfast Express too that was passing by at the time of the accident.
