Bhubaneswar26 minutes agoAuthor: Abdul Rizwan
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The death toll in the train accident in Odisha’s Balasore on the evening of June 2 has increased to 288, more than 900 people are injured. Both the trains that were involved in the accident did not have the Kavach facility (automatic braking system). Had there been an armor system, the Balasore accident could have been prevented.
A year ago, on May 4, Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav in Secunderabad zone had announced to put safety shields on engines to prevent rail accidents. But since then Indian Railways has failed to provide Kavach facility. Indian Railways wants to install it on a route of 5000 kilometers across the country in this financial year.
The process of installing armor system has not started in 18 out of 19 railway zones.
In one year, out of 19 railway zones of the country, the process of armoring could not be started in any zone except Secunderabad zone. There are currently a total of 13,215 electric locomotives in the country. Of these, only 65 loco engines have been equipped with armour.
Actually, this device is also installed in the engine and tracks. As soon as two trains or locomotives come in the area of its effect, the system turns on and starts braking the engine. The train stops. The Railway Board claims to control accidents because of this signal.
1098 Route Km of Zone K Kavach in Secunderabad
Kavach devices have been used on 1,098 route km and 65 locomotives in ongoing projects of South Central Railway. It is working on Bidar-Parli Vaijnath-Parbhani and Manmad-Parbhani-Nanded-Secunderabad-Gadwal-Dhon-Guntkal sections on about 1200 route km of South Central Railway.
Mamta Banerjee also said: Had there been an anti-collision device, the accident would not have happened
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that according to me the accident happened due to the coordination gap of the Railways. When I was the Railway Minister, we started work on anti-collision devices for trains. As far as I know, the Coromandel Express did not have this device. This is the biggest train accident of the century, it should be thoroughly investigated.
I have no words for this pain: PM Modi
After the horrific train accident in Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Balasore and took stock of the rescue operation. After this he reached the hospital and inquired about the condition of the injured. During this, PM Modi said that ‘It is a very painful and disturbing accident, I do not have words to express this pain, may God give strength to everyone, so that they can overcome the time of sorrow.
He said that those who are found guilty in this incident will not be spared and will be given strictest punishment. Earlier, PM Modi was also seen talking on mobile phone from the spot. It is being told that Prime Minister Modi spoke directly to Cabinet Secretary and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya over the phone. He directed to arrange for good treatment of the people.
New face of humanity: A huge crowd of blood donors gathered in the hospital
Allegations of theft and snatching of valuables have been leveled against the local people who reached the spot at the time of such accidents. Perhaps this is the first time in the last few decades, when not a single such allegation has come to the fore.
On the other hand, as soon as the news of the accident spread, a huge crowd of blood donors started gathering at Balasore Hospital. By morning about five hundred units of blood had accumulated.