Verghese V Joseph –
Pope Francis has extended his heartfelt condolences and offered prayers for all those involved in a tragic train collision in India’s Odisha state. The accident claimed around 250 people and injured some 900 others.
The message, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin to the Apostolic Nuncio to India, His Excellency Monsignor Leopoldo Girelli, said, “His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the immense loss of life caused by the train crash in Odisha state, and he assures all affected by this tragedy of his spiritual closeness. entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of the Almighty.”
The Pope sent his heartfelt condolences to those who mourned their loss. His Holiness likewise offers prayers for the many injured and for the efforts of the emergency service personnel, and he invokes upon them the divine gifts of courage and consolation.
On Friday, PM Modi expressed his distress over the accident and announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh for the family of the dead and ₹ 50,000 for the injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
At least 250 passengers are feared dead and over 900 injured in the major accident involving three trains – Yashwantpur-Howrah Express, Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and a goods train in Balasore district of Odisha on the evening of June 2, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) too has expressed its sadness over the train accident.
The letter signed by Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, President, CBCI offered prayers and sympathies on the sad demise of so many people and prays for quick recovery of the injured. It also calls up on the government to find out the cause of such a huge mishap and to take steps to see that in future such massive tragedies are avoided.
A preliminary investigation by a team of railway officials has revealed that signal was given and then taken off for Coromandel Express, which entered the Loop Line and collided with the goods train.
A senior railway official said going by the mandatory provisions, a detailed investigation into the major accident would be done by the Commissioner of Railway Safety who comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.