MoCA's Advisory To Airlines On ‘Surge In Fares’ Following Odisha Train Accident

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Saturday asked airlines to take necessary action in case of any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar, in view of the train accident in Odisha.

Also, it has asked the airlines not to levy any penal charges for cancellation and rescheduling of flights. The ministry has sent out an advisory to the airlines in this regard.

"In view of the unfortunate accident in Odisha, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised all airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar and other airports of the State and take necessary action regarding the same," it said in a statement.

At least 288 people have died in one of the worst accidents involving three trains (the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train) that happened at Balasore in Odisha on Friday night.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the Coromandel Express train involved in the rail tragedy entered the loop line and crashed into a goods train parked there instead of the main line just ahead of the Bahanagar Bazar station, a source told PTI.

The coaches of Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express capsized after crashing into the coaches of Coromandel Express that had scattered on the adjacent track. While Coromandel Express was at a speed of 128 kmph, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was running at a speed of 116 kmph.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site of the train accident in Odisha's Balasore. He also paid a visit to the hospital where the victims of the accident are undergoing treatment.

He took stock of one of the most horrific train accidents in recent memory. PM Modi landed in an Air Force chopper near the site of the incident at Bahanaga Bazar Station in Balasore district.

"It's a painful incident. The government will not be able to bring them back, who lost their lives [in the accident], but the government is with their kin in this grief. This incident is very serious for the government. The government will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured. Instructions have been given for every type of investigation and whoever is found guilty will not be spared," PM Modi said after meeting the survivors.