Root cause of the Odisha train accident identified: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said that the root cause of the Odisha train accident has been identified. He also said that the safety commissioner will submit his report soon. 

The Railway Minister had constituted a committee to look into the tragic accident in Odisha’s Balasore. The tragedy unfolded on late Friday evening when three trains, including two passenger trains and one goods train collided with each other.  The two passenger trains involved in the accident were Coromandel Express and Bengaluru-Howrah Express.  

Vaishnaw said, “The commissioner of railway safety has investigated the matter and let the investigation report come but we have identified the cause of the incident and the people responsible for it. Right now our focus is on restoration.”

The minister also informed that PM Modi inspected the site of the accident on Saturday. He said that all efforts are being made to restore the track by Sunday itself. 

Vaishnaw said, “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.”A

Visuals showed the Railway Minister inspecting the accident site where restoration work is underway. He was accompanied by other officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself visited the site on Saturday and along with Vaishnaw and took stock of the ongoing rescue and relief efforts.

The government has put the number of deaths in the tragedy at 288 and said that more than 1,100 people were injured in the accident. This is being described as one of the worst railway accidents in the country in more than 2 decades.

The Railways immediately announced compensation for the injured and also for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the accident.