Ajit Karn
M K Stalin, the CM of Tamil Nadu, announced on Saturday that the state will observe a day of mourning for the victims of the railway accident in Odisha.
On Saturday, all government programs, events, and the public gathering commemorating the 100th birthday of former chief minister M. Karunanidhi were canceled.
Stalin told reporters in the state emergency operation centre in Ezhilagam that the state government was working closely with the Odisha government in the rescue operation and that a “special train has been arranged for those who were caught in the accident and could not return to Chennai.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin, the minister of sports, and S S Sivasankar, the minister of transport, along with senior officials of the state government, traveled to Odisha to coordinate the rescue efforts.
Stalin announced that the state government will provide Rs 5 lakh to every family of the departed, in addition to the ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PM’s fund and Rs 10 lakh from the Railways. The injured will receive one thousand rupees.
He also said that the precise number of people from Tamil Nadu who died and were injured were not yet known and after obtaining the numbers the compensation will be disbursed.
The state government has also provided the telephone numbers 9445869843, 1070, and 9445869848 (WhatsApp) of the state emergency operation centre for people to inquire about the train accident and the identities of the victims.
Stalin also engaged in a video conversation with Odisha’s chief secretary Pradeep Jena to discuss the rescue operation.
Also read this:Odisha Train Accident: Indian Army deployed to assist in evacuation and treatment of injured citizens
In the disaster involving three trains, over 230 people were killed and approximately 1,000 were injured.
