A total of 288 people have been killed in India’s worst railway accident

A major railway accident occurred around 7 p.m. local time on the 2nd in India. A train derailed while in operation, causing the second train to collide with the derailed carriage and then hit the third freight carriage. Three trains collided, resulting in at least 288 deaths. The latest news indicates that the accident may have been caused by human error, as the train that collided with a freight train was reportedly traveling on the wrong track before the incident.

The three trains’ carriages were piled up and crossed each other, with the carriages broken and twisted and bloodstains visible everywhere. This train derailment accident occurred near the eastern state of Odisha, involving three trains, and is considered the most serious railway traffic accident in India this century.

Rescuers pulled out the dead from the wreckage of the vehicles. The incident caused more than a thousand casualties, and at least 288 people have died, with many injured and bleeding heavily.

Citizens across India are being urged to donate blood. At least 51 train services have been delayed or cancelled. However, a local railway official pointed out based on surveillance footage that the accident may have been caused by human negligence because the train that collided with the freight train was traveling on the wrong track.

Survivor: “I got on the train around 6:40, and about 10 minutes later, I heard a loud noise, and the entire train overturned. I realized an accident had happened.”
According to reports from Indian media, a Coromandel Express bound for Chennai had its 10th to 12th carriage derailed, falling onto the opposite track, and a Howrah Express collided with the derailed carriage, causing the third to fourth carriage to derail and then being hit by a third freight train.

Passenger on the train: “I walked out of the train’s washroom, and suddenly the train tilted, and I lost my balance and quickly grabbed onto a support nearby.”
However, there are also reports that the high-speed train bound for Howrah derailed on its way and its carriages fell onto the adjacent railway track. It was then hit by the Coromandel Express fast train, causing the carriage to derail and hit the freight train parked on another track. The two collisions occurred within five minutes of each other.

The WION anchor: “The minister stated that an investigation has begun, and details of the investigation will be announced soon.”

The safety issues of India’s railways are not newsworthy due to old tracks and trains, overcrowding with passengers, and loose control often leading to overloading, causing frequent railway accidents. However, the cause of this major accident and the reason for the train derailment needs to be clarified after the authorities’ investigation.