Death toll in railway disaster in India rises to almost 300

The fatalities of one of the worst railway disasters to occur in India There are almost 300 and more than a thousand injured.

Almost 48 hours after three trains, with more than 2,200 people on board, were involved in the accident in the state of Odisha, the authorities confirmed that the death toll exceeds 280, as has emerged in Press media.

Two passenger trains collided around 7:00 p.m. (local time) on Friday, after one of them hit a stopped goods train at full speed and derailed in Balasore district, Odisha state.

In a preliminary assessment, authorities said the disaster began when the first of the two passenger trains collided at full speed with the stationary freight train and derailed.

A second passenger train, heading in the opposite direction, then struck some of the derailed cars. due to alleged signaling problems, which were mentioned as the probable cause of the deadly accident.

More than 2,200 passengers were traveling aboard the trains, according to railway authorities, and at least 23 cars left the track.

The force of the collision left the carriages so mangled that rescuers had to cut them apart to reach the victims.

Around 1,200 rescuers worked throughout the night with 115 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units, and Saturday was declared a day of mourning in Odisha.

Residents said they rushed to the scene to evacuate people after hearing a loud noise caused by train cars leaving the tracks.

The accident came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi focuses on modernizing India's British colonial-era railway network.

Despite the government's efforts to improve railway safety, every year there are hundreds of accidents on the Indian Railways, the largest train network under a single management in the world.

In a telegram Sent by Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff offered his prayers and blessings after the tragedy.

Francis said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the immense loss of life caused by the train accident in the state of Odisha", and assured "all those affected by this tragedy of his spiritual closeness".

He concluded his message by offering prayers "for the many injured and for the efforts of the emergency services personnel," invoking above all "the divine gifts of courage and comfort."