Balasore: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said that the rescue operation in the Odisha triple train mishap that claimed the lives of about 280 people has been completed and restoration work has begun.
"The rescue operation has been completed and restoration work has started. We will thoroughly investigate this incident and will ensure such incidents don't happen in future," said Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
By Saturday afternoon the number of people who were killed in the incident had gone up to 280 while around 900 have been been injured, according to officials. However, a preliminary report released earlier today by the State Emergency Operation Centre of Odisha's Special Relief Commissioner in Bhubaneswar had put the toll to 238,
Vaishnaw who arrived at the incident site in Balasore said that a high-level probe has been initiated and efforts will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future.
The accident involved Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and the goods trains on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station in the Balasore district. Seventeen coaches of the passenger trains have been de-railed and severely damaged in the accident on Friday evening. (with ANI inputs)