PM Modi takes stock of situation at train accident site Bahanga in Balasore

New delhi 03 June 2023:Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the train mishap site at Bahanaga in Balasore district of Odisha on Saturday afternoon and took stock of the situation. Mr Modi held a review meeting with senior Railway officials. He also visited Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore and interacted with the injured. He was accompanied by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Mr. Modi interacted with Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik.

Prime Minister Modi expressed anguish over the incident. Saying that directions have been given to probe the cause of the accident from every angle, Mr Modi said those responsible for the mishap will be dealt with stringently. The Prime Minister praised the Odisha government and common people for lending a helping hand which resulted in speedy rescue operations.
The Prime Minister said the need of the hour is to restore normal train services on the track.

Mr Modi also spoke to the Cabinet Secretary and the Health Minister from the mishap site and directed them to provide all help to the injured and their families.
Before visiting the accident site, Mr. Modi chaired a high level meeting in New Delhi to review the situation. The aspects relating to rescue, relief and medical attention to those affected were discussed in the meeting. Home Minister Amit Shah, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and NDRF Chief S.N. Pradhan were among those who attended the meeting.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took stock of the situation this morning at the accident site. He visited Balasore District Hospital to supervise the treatment of injured persons.

The death toll in the train accident has risen to 288, and around 1000 are feared critically injured.  Meanwhile, several special and express trains are being cancelled following the accident.

Odisha and Tamil Nadu governments have announced one-day State mourning today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees each to the next of kin of each deceased. He said each injured will be given 50 thousand rupees.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced an ex-gratia for the accident victims. He said ten lakh rupees will be given to the next of kin of each killed, two lakh rupees each to grievously injured and 50 thousand rupees each for minor injuries.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has announced an ex-gratia of five lakh rupees each to the families of the deceased and 50 thousand rupees each to the injured.

Condolences are pouring in from world leaders on train crash. They include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Charles Michel, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen and US Envoy to India Eric Garcetti.