The horrific train accident in Balasore district last evening could have resulted in an even bigger tragedy had the Odisha government not come to the rescue of injured passengers immediately. The role played by the local people in the relief and rescue operation also deserves praise.
The accident took place at around 7.20 pm as about a dozen bogies of the Shalimar Express jumped the tracks near Bahanaga which is about 20 kilometres from Balasore city. The derailed bogies fell on the parallel track on which Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express was running. This train hit the derailed bogies of the Shalimar Express. In the process some bogies of Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express also got derailed.
It was pitch-dark in the area when the accident took place. This worsened the situation as organising a rescue operation in the darkness was a challenging task. However, local people, especially the youth of Bahanaga, came out in large numbers to rescue people trapped in the derailed bogies and not only provided them medical aid but also food and clothes to those who needed them.
The Odisha government, acting under the direct instructions of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik immediately put the office of the Special Relief Commissioner on the alert and it mounted a major rescue and relief operation. While at least one senior minister was despatched to the area immediately, around 100 ambulances rushed to the spot to rescue the affected people and ferry them to hospitals.
In fact, the state government and the local volunteers in Bahanaga acted much faster than the railway officials, who also acted promptly. This is not the first time that the government and people of Odisha displayed their humane side during a crisis. There have been several cases of people in the state being hit by natural calamities, including cyclones and floods, and the government moving promptly to help them without waiting for assistance from the Centre.
Similarly, in many areas people turned out on their own to help the victims of cyclones and floods and organised relief camps and community kitchens for them. Their efforts supplemented the efforts of the government. There have been instances where government agencies have deliberately involved local volunteers in such efforts to ensure better results.
The spirit of volunteerism in Odisha has received praise from all over the world. The state has also earned praise for its resilience and its ability to bounce back after any major tragedy or disaster. A sterling example of this is the way it overcame the impact of the super-cyclone of 1999 which had left behind a trail of death and destruction.
Patnaik deserves special praise as he was the first chief minister who undertook initiatives to put in place institutions that can help tackle natural disasters and even other kinds of tragedies. He ensured that the government learnt from the tragedy that befell the state in the wake of the 1999 super-cyclone and took measures to establish permanent institutions such as the Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority. This body was equipped with all kinds of resources, including human resources.
Armed with such resources, the government is now able to respond quickly to any emergency situation.
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