Taking notes from the horrifying incident that took place in Odisha’s Balasore in which over 280 people were killed in an accident involving three trains, Former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav called for a high-level inquiry into the train crash on Saturday.

Lalu Yadav attacks centre on Odisha train accident

Alleging negligence, in an apparent reference to the BJP-led central government, without naming them, the RJD chief said, “The manner in which they showed negligence and didn’t show alertness led to such a large number of casualties.”

Demands a high-level probe

“There should be a high-level inquiry and action should be taken against those responsible for it…There was major negligence. They have destroyed Railways,” Mr Yadav added.

According to Railways, the three-way accident on Friday evening led to more than 280 deaths. The injured people were rushed to the nearby Hospitals of Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting over the Odisha train accident in the national capital. Moreover, PM Modi has also arrived at the accident spot.

The scale of the accident was evident from the visuals of the accident site with some bogeys thrown wide off from the track, crushed or in mangled condition and belongings of passengers strewn around.

Also Read: Odisha Train Accident: Death Toll Rises To 280, Rescue Operations Intensified; Odisha CM Reaches Accident Site

Details of the accident

According to a preliminary report released on Saturday by the State Emergency Operation Centre of Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner in Bhubaneswar, the accident took place at around 7 am at Bahanaga Bazar Station in Odisha’s Balasore district.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the rescue operation has been completed and restoration work has started.

“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,” he said.

Odisha has declared a day of mourning in the wake of the accident.