The death toll from a devastating train crash has risen to at least 288 people, with 900 more injured, as officials have halted the search for survivors. 

This crash, which occurred on June 2 in India, has been labelled the worst rail disaster the country has seen in over 20 years.

Emergency crews undertook strenuous efforts to traverse the tangled ruins of the trains. They used cutting torches to pry open doors and windows, hoping to find survivors.

The collision involved two passenger trains and one stationary freight train in Odisha, an eastern state of India. Many bodies were found adjacent to the tracks and were covered with white sheets. Rescuers and local community members worked around the clock to release individuals trapped inside the crushed rail cars.

A wide array of agencies, including the army, air force helicopters, fire brigades, police, and the National Disaster Response Force, joined the rescue efforts. However, the operation was eventually called off, and the focus was shifted to clearing debris and restoring rail service.

The incident unfolded when the Coromandel Express, a high-speed train, crashed into a stationary freight train at the Bahanaga Bazar station. The express train was not due to stop at this station and was moving at top speed when it derailed. Twenty-one coaches veered off the tracks, with three landing on another track. Concurrently, the Yesvantpur-Howrah Express, coming from the opposite direction, hit the derailed coaches, leading to the derailment of two more coaches.

Preliminary investigation findings suggest that an issue with the electronic signaling system likely caused the accident. It remains unclear whether the error was human or technical in nature. While the system is generally dependable, it is not foolproof. Questions remain unanswered as to why the freight train was stationary and why the Coromandel Express didn’t receive a warning about its presence.

The accident comes amidst Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plans to upgrade India’s railway network, leading to raised concerns about safety measures and the updating of antiquated infrastructure. The Indian railway network, the largest managed by a single entity worldwide, frequently experiences accidents primarily attributed to infrastructure deterioration.