Odisha: Train services resume on both lines in Balasore; Vaishnaw prays for safe journey
First Published: 5th June, 2023 8:07 IST
The Railways minister added both the lines were reconstucted and tested before services resumed, 51 hours after the chilling derailment incident
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday waved at the crew of a goods train and prayed for a safe journey, as services resumed following repair of the damaged tracks on both the up and down lines, 51 hours after the horrific triple train accident in Balasore left 275 dead and more than 1,000 injured.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, the Railways minister said work on reconstruction of the damaged tracks started soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out instructions to that effect.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his advice and instructions on the restoration of the railway tracks. The whole team (involved in the restoration work) laboured diligently and systematically to fix the damaged rails for the resumption of services,” he said.
The Railways minister added both the lines were reconstucted and tested before services resumed, 51 hours after the chilling derailment incident.
“Services on both tracks have been restored. Nomal train services on both the lines have now been restored, 51 hours after the accident,” said Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The triple train accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district.
Earlier, on Sunday, Vaishnaw said the accident occurred due to a “change in electronic interlocking”.
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.
Earlier in the day, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, along with Vaishnaw and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met the injured at Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Secy Pradeep Jena clarified that the death toll from the horrific accident had been revised from 288 to 275, after it was dermined that some bodies had been counted twice.
“The death toll is 275, and not 288 as reported earlier. The toll was re-checked by the district magistrate (DM) and it was found that some bodies had been counted twice. Hence the toll was revised to 275, of which 88 bodies have been identified,” Jena told ANI.
“Of the 1,175 injured, 793 were discharged after treatment,” he added.
Over 1000 workers were pressed into service for restoration of the damaged tracks, the ministry stated, adding that more than 7 Poclain Machines, two Accident Relief Trains and 3-4 Railway and Road Cranes are deployed for the purpose as well. (ANI)
Also Read : After train crash, Aviation Ministry advises airlines not to increase fares to, from Bhubaneswar
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Assam Bypoll Results: BJP’s Diganta Ghatowal Wins Behali Seat, Defeats Cong’s Jayanta Borah
23rd November 2024Live BJP And Allies Leading in All Assam Seats. UPPL Pramod Bodo Speaks To Northeast Live
23rd November 2024Live Meghalaya CM Thanks People of Gambegre, Wife Mehtab Chandee Set To Win Gambegre Seat
23rd November 2024Live Meghalaya Bypoll Results: CM Conrad Sangma’s Wife, Debutant Mehtab Chandee Wins Gambegre, Defeats TMC’s Sadhiarani Sangma by 4594 Votes
23rd November 2024WE RECOMMEND
Wayanad bypolls: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra leads with 5,672 votes; CPI, BJP candidates trail in 2nd, 3rd spots
If Priyanka Gandhi wins from Wayanad, she will be the third person from the Gandhi family to enter Parliament.
23rd November 2024Counting begins for Jharkhand, Maharashtra elections, along with bypolls across 15 states
Efforts were made to ease voting, especially in places like Mumbai, where there were challenges during the Parliament elections.
23rd November 2024Indian national indicted for illegal export of US aviation components to Russia
Exporting such components to restricted countries, including Russia, requires a licence from the US Department of Commerce.
23rd November 2024India has stayed away from ideas of expansionism, resource-capturing: PM tells Guyana Parliament
PM Modi said the relations betwen India and Guyana are very deep and it is a relation of soil, sweat, diligence.
22nd November 2024India to establish ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendras’ in Guyana; increase defence, energy cooperation, announces PM Modi
PM Modi also termed his visit 'the first by an Indian PM to Guyana' as a "significant milestone" for the ties between the two countries.
21st November 2024