Odisha train accident: Death toll rises to 288; PM Modi inspects site, says stringent action to be taken against those found guilty
New Delhi, June 3
PM Modi on Saturday reached site in Odisha where a tragic triple train accident took place last night. The mishap claimed at least 288 lives and left as many as 900 injured.
Modi spoke to the press after inspecting the site of one of the country’s worst train disasters at Bahanaga in Odisha’s Balasore district. He also met victims of the mishap at Balasore Hospital.
“Stringent action will be taken against those found guilty in the train accident incident. No one will be spared,” Modi said.
Prime Minister also promised, “We will give the best possible treatment to those injured in this tragedy”.
“I am grateful to local people for all help given to train accident victims,” Modi said.
Speaking of the accident he said, “I do not have words to express the pain. Let Almighty give us strength to overcome this situation”.
The train crash in Odisha on Friday involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train.
The data shows this was one of the deadliest accidents since independence.
Here is a look at other deadliest train crashes:
*It was on June 6, 1981 that India recorded its worst train accident which occurred in Bihar. A train fell into the Bagmati river while crossing a bridge, killing more than 750 people.
*On August 20, 1995, the Purushottam Express collided with the stationary Kalindi Express near Firozabad. The official death toll was 305.
*On November 26, 1998, the Jammu Tawi–Sealdah Express collided with three derailed coaches of the Frontier Golden Temple Mail in Khanna in Punjab, killing 212 people.
*August 2, 1999: The Gaisal train disaster occurred when the Brahmaputra Mail crashed into the stationary Avadh Assam Express at Gaisal station in North Frontier Railway’s Katihar division, killing more than 285 people and injuring over 300. Many of the victims were Army, BSF or CRPF personnel.
*November 20, 2016: The Pukhrayan train derailment occurred when 14 coaches of the Indore–Rajendra Nagar Express derailed at Pukhrayan, approximately 60 km from Kanpur, killing 152 people and injuring 260.
*September 9, 2002: The Rafiganj train wreck occurred when the Howrah Rajdhani Express derailed over a bridge on the Dhave river in Rafiganj, killing more than 140 people. Terrorist sabotage was blamed for the incident.
*December 23, 1964: The Pamban-Dhanuskodi passenger train was washed away by the Rameswaram cyclone, killing over 126 passengers.
*May 28, 2010: The Jnaneswari Express train derailment — The Mumbai-bound train had derailed near Jhargram and was then hit by an oncoming goods train, leading to the death of 148 passengers.
Inputs from agencies
