Ashwini Vaishnaw: Root cause & people behind the train accident identified

According to railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the main reason for the three-train collision in the Balasore region of Odisha has been found, and by Wednesday, normal operations would resume on the damaged routes.

He said that electronic interlocking and point machines are at fault.

Vaishnaw claimed that the adjustment to the electronic interlocking that caused the accident had been found, while dismissing any connection to the ‘Kavach’ anti-collision system.

Around 2,500 people were on board the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express when they collided with a goods train Friday night at around 7 o’clock near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore.

Over 1,100 people were hurt in the catastrophe, and at least 288 people died.

“The investigation into the accident is over, and once the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) submits his report, all the information will be available.

“The horrific incident’s underlying cause has been found… I won’t get into specifics. Let the report be published. The railway minister stated, “I will just say that the root cause and those accountable have been found.

He added that approximately 300 accident victims’ families had received compensation.

“At Soro Hospital, we interacted with the staff and patients. To help patients get home after treatment, special trains are running from Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ranchi, Kolkata, and other locations.

Speaking to reporters at the scene of the disaster, Vaishnaw claimed that one of the main lines has already had tracks installed and that restoration work was being done on a war footing.

“We have used every available resource. Kavach has nothing to do with the incident, I also want to add. The electrical interlocking system changes are to blame for this accident. The statements made by Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, are untrue, according to Vaishnaw.