Last week, India experienced one of its worst train accidents in history. At least 280 people were killed and around 1000 were injured when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train and derailed near the city of Balasore in Odisha state.
The accident occurred after the passenger train was wrongly directed onto a loop track by the side of the main line. The cause of the accident is believed to be due to a signal system error, according to an official from Indian Railways.
Survivors of the crash described a panicked scramble to escape as they heard loud noises and felt their carriages being crushed by other carriages. One survivor said that he saw bodies tangled in metal and people screaming for help.
The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on Twitter, saying “My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in this accident.” He also promised an investigation into what caused the crash.
The Indian government has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and has suspended all services on that particular railway line until further notice. Railway officials have said that they will look into any possibility of sabotage as part of their investigation.
This tragic event highlights how important it is for railway safety standards to be improved across India, especially since this is not the first time such an incident has happened in recent years. In 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of the worst rail accidents in India’s history. In 2016, another passenger train slid off tracks due to brake failure, resulting in at least 150 injuries but no fatalities.
It is essential for railway authorities to take steps towards improving safety measures so that such tragedies can be avoided in future. This includes investing more resources into maintenance and training staff on proper safety protocols and procedures. Furthermore, it is important for passengers to always remain vigilant while travelling by train and follow all instructions given by railway staff members or authorities during emergencies or other situations that may arise during their journey.
