Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that individuals found guilty in connection with the tragic rail accident in eastern India will face severe punishment.

The incident occurred in Odisha state and involved two passenger trains and a goods train, resulting in the loss of at least 288 lives and over 800 injuries.

Following the completion of rescue operations, during which all trapped and injured passengers were rescued, PM Modi personally visited the site and expressed his sorrow over the incident.

He also met with victims in the hospital and assured them that his government would spare no effort in providing treatment to the injured.

The collision, described as India's most devastating rail accident of the century, took place in Balasore district.

While a thorough investigation is underway, preliminary findings suggest that the accident was caused by a signal failure, according to KS Anand, the chief public relations officer of the South Eastern Railway.

It is estimated that approximately 2,000 passengers were on board the two passenger trains involved.

The precise chain of events leading to the collision has been the subject of conflicting reports.

According to officials, several carriages of the Coromandel Express, which was traveling between Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and Chennai (formerly Madras), derailed around 19:00 (13:30 GMT) after colliding with a stationary goods train.

How the Express ended up on the same track as the goods train remains unclear.

Subsequently, some of the derailed coaches from the Coromandel Express ended up on the adjacent track, resulting in a collision with the Howrah Superfast Express, which was traveling in the opposite direction from Yesvantpur to Howrah.

Anand explained that the Coromandel Express was intended to travel on the main line but was mistakenly directed to the loop line, leading to its collision with the parked goods train.

As a result, the coaches fell onto both tracks, causing the derailment of the Howrah Superfast Express as well. 

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