Odisha 3-train crash: “Our responsibility is not over yet,” says Ashwini Vaishnaw as train movement resumes on affected section

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Sunday that the goal is for missing persons’ families to be able to locate them as soon as possible following the horrific triple train accident that occurred in Odisha’s Balasore on Friday, June 2.

“Our goal is to make sure missing persons’ family members can find them as soon as possible…our responsibility is not over yet,” Vaishnaw told reporters on Sunday night. He also waved at the crew of a goods train and prayed for a safe journey, as services resumed following the repair of the damaged tracks on both the up and down lines, 51 hours after the terrible triple train accident in Balasore that left at least 275 dead and more than 1,000 injured.

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, the Railway minister said work on the 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 railway minister added that both lines were rebuilt and tested before services resumed 51 hours after the terrifying derailment.

Previously, Vaishnaw stated that the accident was caused by a “change in electronic interlocking.”
The Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express, and a goods train collided on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district.

Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena clarified on Sunday that the death toll from the horrific accident had been reduced from 288 to 275 after it was discovered that some bodies were counted twice.

According to the ministry, over 1000 workers have been pressed into service to repair the damaged tracks, along with more than 7 Poclain Machines, two Accident Relief Trains, and 3-4 Railway and Road Cranes.