Tragic Train Incident: Seeking Accountability
In an unfortunate train incident that took place in Balasore, Odisha on June 2, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a compensation of Rs five lakhs for the families of the West Bengal residents who lost their lives. The incident, considered one of the biggest railway accidents in the 21st century, has prompted discussions on railway safety measures and accountability.
Expressing her concerns during her visit to the accident site, Chief Minister Banerjee highlighted the absence of an anti-collision device on the train, emphasizing that such a device could have potentially prevented the accident. She assured cooperation with the Railways and the Odisha Government to ensure proper investigation and resolution of the incident.
Various compensations have been announced in response to the tragedy. The Railways offered an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakhs for each deceased, while the Prime Minister’s Office declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs two lakhs from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakhs for the deceased and Rs one lakh for the injured.
Prime Minister Modi has instructed a thorough investigation into the railway disaster, vowing to hold those responsible accountable. The tragic incident claimed the lives of 288 people, making it one of India’s deadliest rail tragedies in decades. The collision involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express, and a cargo train, impacting approximately 2,000 passengers.
As the incident unfolds, the focus remains on providing support to the affected families and ensuring a comprehensive investigation to determine the causes and prevent similar accidents in the future.
–Re-reported the article from the story originally published in the republic
