PHUTI MOSOMANE
South Africa sends condolences to India after a horrific three-train collision left more than 200 dead and an estimated 800 injured in the country’s eastern state of Odisha.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent a message of condolences to India following the tragic three-train accident in India’s eastern state of Odesha.
The train accident took place on Friday and claimed the lives of more than 200 people and left more than 800 injured and reports said hospitals and morgues were battling to cope with the numbers of dead and injured passengers.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa sent condolences to the Government and the people of India, in particular the families of the deceased,” said Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
President Ramaphosa said the South African Government and its people stand in solidarity with those affected by this tragedy and lauded the emergency rescue and medical personnel for their tireless efforts.
He said the thoughts of the South African people are with the people of India, particularly the affected families, during this time of mourning.
South Africa and India enjoy strong historical, political, diplomatic, economic and people-to-people relations. The two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1993.
South Africa and India share several common interests, including the reform of the United Nations (UN) and Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank).
The two countries also cooperate in a number of multilateral forums, including BRICS, the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum and the G20.
According to reports, fate appears to have conspired in Friday’s disaster involving two passenger trains traveling in the opposite direction and a freight carrier in a loop line.
After 6. at 5: 50 pm on Friday, Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express should have passed the stationary goods train in the loop line to its left.
But a route relay interlocking system error that controls the changing of tracks meant that Coromandel did not switch to the second track at the interchange before the accident point but hurtled on and rammed into the freight train at express speed.
One coach of Coromandel then swung to the right and onto the track of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, causing the second accident. The train from Bengaluru was supposed to have passed the spot two-and-a-half hours ago. But it was running late.
“The Coromandel Express was on time, but the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was two-and-a-half hours. It was indeed a tragic coincidence,” said South-Eastern Railway CPRO Aditya Kumar Chaudhary.
Eastern Railway general manager Manoj Joshi, who is now Mumbai Metro director (operations) explained that had the Bengaluru-Howrah train been running on time, or not been this late, it would have crossed the spot before Coromandel’s derailment.
“The death toll would have been a lot lower as only one passenger train would have been involved in the crash with a goods train,” he rued.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was deeply moved by the warm messages and condolences from world leaders on the train mishap in Odisha.
“Their kind words will give strength to the bereaved families. Gratitude for their support.”
He further said:”I took stock of the situation at the site of the tragedy in Odisha. Words can’t capture my deep sorrow. We stand committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected. I laud all those working round the clock, on the ground and helping out in relief work.”.
Additional reporting from Times of India
