Indian authorities raised the death toll to 261 on Saturday the worst train accident in two decades in the Asian countrywhich also left 900 injured when three trains collided last Friday in the eastern state of Odisha.
“According to the information received so far, there are 261 deadsaid a statement from the South Eastern Division of the Indian Railways.
The new death toll comes after Indian authorities concluded this morning search and rescue in Balasore districtwhere yesterday around 7:20 p.m. local time (8:50 a.m. Panama time) two passenger trains and a third freight train were involved in a multiple collision.
Hundreds of troops from the Disaster Management Force mobilized to end the chaotic operation it lasted all night until this morning in Balasore district.
The accident happened when the first passenger train that ccovered the route between the cities of Shalimar, Calcutta, and Chennaiin the southern state of Tamil Nadu, derailed, after which another train traveling from Yeswanthpur in Bangalore to Howrah in Kolkata collided with it.
A third freight train also participated.Although the authorities have launched an investigation and have not yet clarified the reason for the incident.
The the authorities declared a day of mourning in the country and compensation of more than 12,000 dollars for the dead, about 2,500 dollars for the seriously injured and 606 dollars for those with minor injuries, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he would visit the accident site.
This is India’s worst rail accident in over two decades, following a collision between two trains in August 1999 in the northeastern state of West Bengal, which killed 288 people. About 800 people died in 1981 when a train derailed while crossing a bridge and plunged into a river in the northern state of Bihar.
The Indian railway network is 68,000 kilometers long. the fourth longest in the world, behind the United States, Russia and China. There are 21,650 trains and 7,349 stations throughout the country, and it transports about 23 million people daily.
Source: Panama America
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
