Just after the rescue work at the Odisha train crash site ended, the Indian Railways have begun the track restoration work at the Balasore accident site, hoping to restore train traffic through the route at least by Wednesday.
The Ministry of Railways took to Twitter to inform that officials are closely monitoring the restoration process at the accident site. “Restoration work is ongoing at war footing at the train accident site in Balasore, Odisha with 1000+ Manpower working tirelessly.
At present, more than 7 Poclain Machines, 2 Accident Relief Trains, and 3-4 Railway and Road Cranes have been deployed for early restoration. Officials are closely monitoring the restoration process at the accident site,” read the post.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Odisha’s Balasore, a day after a massive accident took place there and assured that stringent action would be taken against those found responsible. He also took stock of the ongoing rescue and relief operations going on.
“It’s a painful incident. Government will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured. It’s a serious incident, instructions issued for probe from every angle. Those found guilty will be punished stringently. Railway is working towards track restoration. I met the injured victims,” he said.
Earlier, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw too had reiterated that the objective was to start operating train service through the sector in a normal way latest by Wednesday morning.
South Eastern Railway chief public relations officer Aditya Kumar told ANI that the capsized bogies have been removed. “Two bogies of goods train also have been removed…work of connecting track is going on from one side…will finish the work as soon as possible,” he added.
As per the latest reports, around 90 trains were cancelled, mostly in the Southern and South Eastern Railway Zones, while 46 were diverted and 11 short-terminated.
According to the latest data released by the two zones, the South Eastern Railway cancelled trains such as the Chennai-Howrah Mail, the Darbhanga-Kanniyakumari Express and the Kamakhya-LTT Express journey commencing on June 3. It has also cancelled the Patna-Puri Special train with the journey commencing on June 4.
The Southern Railway cancelled trains such as the Mangalore-Santragachi Vivek Superfast Express leaving Mangalore at 23.00 hours on June 3, Dr MGR Chennai Central-Shalimar Coromandel Express leaving Chennai at 07.00 hrs on June 4, Dr MGR Chennai Central-Santragachi AC Superfast train leaving Chennai at 08.10 hrs on June 4.
It also cancelled Rangapara North-Erode Superfast Special leaving Rangapara North at 05.15 hrs on June 3, the Guwahati-Sri M.Visveswaraya Bengaluru Tri Weekly Superfast Express leaving Guwahati at 06.20 hrs on June 6, Kamakhya-Sir M.Visveswaraya Bengaluru AC Superfast Express leaving Kamakhya at 14.00 hrs on June 7.
The Railways have short-terminated 11 trains due to the accident. The current death toll in the incident stands at 288 with 747 people injured. Of that, over 56 are grievously injured.
