The World Briefly

June 05, 2023

Crossed Signals

India

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Indian rescuers ended their search for survivors over the weekend following a deadly train crash that killed almost 290 people and injured around 900 others on Friday, one of the worst railway accidents in the country’s history, NBC News reported.

The incident occurred when three trains – one freight and two passenger trains carrying more than 1,000 passengers each – crashed in the eastern state of Odisha.

Hundreds of rescuers and army troops cut through mangled steel to look for survivors, while authorities said they will launch an investigation into the “root cause” of the crash, but believe it has to do with a signaling error.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the crash site Saturday, saying that “all possible assistance” was being given to those affected by the crash.

Officials said that the victims’ families will receive compensation of around $12,000. The seriously injured will get $2,400, while those with minor injuries will receive $607.

Previous accidents have been blamed on human error or the use of outdated signaling equipment. India experienced its worst rail accident in August 1995 when two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people.

The country has one of the world’s largest railway networks, after the United States and China. The railway is one of the globe’s largest employers and the most affordable form of transport in the country, according to the Washington Post.

Prime Minister Modi has launched efforts to modernize the railway infrastructure with advanced, high-speed trains, but his proposals have faced criticism after the recent crash. Critics suggest prioritizing improving existing infrastructure instead of focusing on new high-tech projects.

This story originally appeared in the June 05, 2023 newsletter, Enmity, Long and Deep.