On Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the site of a tragic train accident in Odisha’s Balasore district. The accident killed 261 people and left over 900 others injured. Banerjee demanded a proper investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Banerjee spoke with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other officials about the lack of coordination in the Railways Department. She expressed concern that the anti-collision system may not have been functioning properly, which could have contributed to the accident.
Banerjee announced a compensation of Rs 5,00,000 for the families of the victims from West Bengal. The West Bengal Secretariat reported that 70 ambulances, 34 doctors, 10 buses, and 20 mini-trucks had arrived in Balasore by noon on Saturday. Two disaster management teams of police were on their way to Balasore.
The statement also indicated that 20 ambulances and 120 passengers had left Balasore for West Bengal and 11 patients were admitted to different hospitals in West Bengal. Banerjee’s government officials are coordinating with their counterparts in Odisha for smooth rescue operations.
